Sensitive materials arrive Ondo ahead of gov poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that sensitive materials for the Ondo state governorship election have arrived in the state.

This was disclosed by the commission on Monday.

The election is scheduled for Saturday, November 16 with 17 political parties to participate in it.

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The INEC added that the materials “arrived in Akure, the State capital, and received by officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The materials were conveyed to Akure by the Nigeria Airforce.”

Earlier, the commission disclosed deploying no less than 15,500 ad hoc staff for the election which 1,757,205 persons are eligible to vote, upon collection of their permanent voter cards out of 2,053,061 registered voters in the state.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has banned the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun and vigilante group, among others, from participating in the Ondo State governorship election.

No fewer than 17 political parties will participate in the election slated for November 16, 2024.

The police have also banned the Western Security Network popularly known as Amotekun from participating in the election, stating that only the federal security agencies and other members of the inter-agency consultative committee on election security would only be allowed.

Muyiwa Ademola, Force public relations officer, said, “Furthermore, the IGP reaffirmed the established guidelines governing election security management in Nigeria, stressing that no quasi-security organisation, including state-backed groups like vigilante corps or Amotekun, will be permitted to participate in the election process.

“The security of this election is a responsibility entrusted solely to the Nigeria Police Force and other federal security agencies, along with the broader membership of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

“The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other federal security agencies, remains committed, vigilant, and fully prepared to ensure that the Ondo State gubernatorial election proceeds smoothly, without incident, and in accordance with the highest standards of electoral integrity.”