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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Edo State office, yesterday, began the distribution of sensitive materials to the various local government areas in the state.
Daily Sun reports that the sensitive materials in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Benin branch, were examined by representatives of different political parties and election observers prior to the movement of the items.
Speaking after the inspection, Obo Efanga, Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, said all materials needed for the presidential and national assembly elections slated for Saturday, February 25, 2023, had been received and would be distributed to the local government areas.
He noted that all materials would reach the local government offices of INEC today (Thursday) and subsequently moved to the Registration Area Centers (RAC).
“We have received all materials for the elections coming up this Saturday and we are here to distribute them to the local government areas.
“What we are doing right now is to bring them out from the strong room of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“We are arranging them in terms of location of the local government areas, and taking note of the senatorial districts.
“Soon, we will be inviting each local government areas to sort the materials, then load their vehicles and move them to their locations.
“All materials will get to the local government offices of INEC today, and they will use from today and the whole of tomorrow to arrange them and move to the Registration Area Centers, where people will camp overnight tomorrow such that on the election day, on Saturday, early in the morning, the materials and personnel will be at the polling units.
“So that the polling units will open at 8:30 am,” Efanga said.
He, however, added that they are yet to get sensitive materials for the March 11 elections, saying, “After this, we have a two-week period to do return of logistics for the materials we have used, and the fresh materials for the March 11 elections, which in Edo State is only the state house of assembly elections, will also come in.”
Joseph Omorogbe, Edo State chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), on his part, commended INEC for the readiness ahead the election.
