Osun Decides: How court ruling forced INEC into 36-hour ballot printing blitz

Security personnel block the road for stop-and-search operations at Testing Ground, Osogbo, the Osun State capital, during the governorship election. PHOTO: Ayodele Adeniran

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it printed millions of ballot papers and result sheets within 36 hours after a court judgment ordered the inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

 

The INEC National Commissioner supervising Osun State, Kunle Ajayi, disclosed this in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, as the commission assured voters of its readiness for the poll.

 

Ajayi said the late court decision forced the commission to adjust its preparations at short notice but insisted that it did not disrupt its logistical arrangements.

 

“In spite of the fact that the thing came late, we were able to print all ballot papers, millions, within 36 hours, because hours had no meaning to us anymore. Days had no meaning to us anymore,” Ajayi said.

 

He added: “We were working day and night as if it were day. So, we were able to complete the printing, and we moved all the materials, all the sensitive materials, ballots, everything, to the Central Bank, late last night.”

 

The commissioner said the commission’s preparations remained on course despite the last-minute changes arising from the court judgment.

 

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