Heavy security presence was observed at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) along the Gbongan-Ibadan Road in Osogbo on Friday as preparations intensified for Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

Security personnel, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, were deployed to the INEC premises as election officials and stakeholders made final arrangements for the poll.

The heightened security presence came as preparations were being concluded for the deployment of personnel and sensitive electoral materials to the state’s 30 local government areas.

Election stakeholders, including civil society organisations, journalists and election observers, were also seen at the INEC office ahead of the election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Oluwatoyin Babalola, was said to be holding meetings with National Commissioners and supporting Resident Electoral Commissioners from other states as part of efforts to finalise arrangements for the poll.

The election is scheduled to hold across 3,763 polling units in 332 wards and the 30 local government areas of the state.

INEC had on Thursday disclosed that more than 1.9 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been collected by eligible voters ahead of the election.

The commission has continued to urge stakeholders and voters to cooperate with officials and security agencies to ensure a peaceful and credible exercise.

With the election only hours away, the activities at the INEC office reflected the heightened preparations among electoral officials, security agencies and other stakeholders for the governorship poll.