The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday distributed sensitive materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, to Remo North, Ikenne, and Sagamu Local Government Areas ahead of the bye-election scheduled for Saturday, August 16, in the Remo Federal Constituency of Ogun State.
The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Saseyi Feyijimi, supervised the distribution from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Abeokuta. She assured stakeholders of a transparent and credible election process.
Feyijimi disclosed that 2,445 INEC officials have been trained to handle the conduct of the poll, emphasizing that the Commission will not tolerate any misconduct.
We have made it clear to all our staff: anyone caught violating electoral laws will face the consequences. INEC will not defend any individual involved in infractions, she said.
The movement of materials was observed by representatives of security agencies and political parties, including agents from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Accord Party.
Feyijimi noted that non-sensitive materials had already been dispatched earlier, and the open distribution of sensitive materials was done in full view of stakeholders to ensure transparency.
We’ve ensured transparency at every step. Photos were taken, and stakeholders confirmed that materials remained sealed. This process has been completely open,” she added.
INEC also confirmed the readiness of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, along with backups, to ensure a smooth election.
Voting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m., but voters in the queue at closing time will still be allowed to cast their ballots.
The bye-election follows the death of Hon. Otunba Adewunmi Onanuga, the former Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, who passed away on January 15. She was representing the Remo Federal Constituency—covering Sagamu, Ikenne, and Remo North—under the platform of the APC.