INEC distributes sensitive electoral materials in Kebbi, Ekiti, Benue

• Ondo supplementary election unnecessary, waste of money, PDP insists
The Kebbi State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distributed sensitive electoral materials to the 21 local government areas ahead of Saturday’s elections.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ahmad Mahmud, stated this at a media briefing shortly after receiving the items in Birnin-Kebbi, adding that the distribution took place in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).“The distribution was done in the presence of representatives of political parties and security agencies including the Department of State Services (DSS), Customs, Immigration, Civil Defence, Police and the Nigeria Army,” he said.Besides, INEC in Ekiti State yesterday distributed sensitive materials to the 16 local government areas of the state for Saturday’s House of Assembly election.

The distribution, according to the Acting REC, Muslim Omoleke, was done in the presence of security agencies and party representatives.Speaking with newsmen in Ado- Ekiti, Omoleke assured that the commission would not disappoint Ekiti voters during the conduct of the polls.

Also, in Benue, the commission said it has distributed all sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the 23 local government areas of the state.National Electoral Commissioner in charge of Benue, Nasarawa and Anambra states, Festus Okoye, disclosed this at a media briefing in Makurdi. He assured that late arrival of materials witnessed in some polling centres in the state during the Presidential and National Assembly elections, would not repeat itself on Saturday. Okoye, who is also commissioner in charge of Voters Education, said all local government electoral officers have been directed to ensure that all ad-hoc staff were fully trained before the end of today.

Meanwhile, INEC in Lagos yesterday reshuffled and allegedly delisted names of some ad-hoc officials ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial and state Assembly polls. The development, however, threw many officials into confusion, causing a stampede at INEC’s office in Yaba. Among the cadres affected were supervisors, polling officers (POs) and assistant polling officers (APOs).

Some of the officials, however, complained of being shortchanged in payment of their allowances for participating in the presidential and National Assembly elections two weeks ago. An ad-hoc staff, Olufemi Akinsiku, who worked as a supervisor in the last elections, told The Guardian that he was getting ready for deployment when he received a text message directing him to contact his Electoral Officer (EO).