Trending 
Security operatives from various agencies have been deployed across Ekiti State ahead of the governorship election scheduled for Saturday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will begin moving sensitive election materials across the state’s 16 local government areas on Thursday.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, told Punch on Wednesday that the commission has put in place the necessary measures to ensure a credible election.
Registered voters across Ekiti are expected to elect a governor from among candidates fielded by 13 political parties in the poll, which will be conducted across 16 local government areas, 177 wards, and over 2,000 polling units.
The Nigerian Air Force, in a statement signed by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said it had successfully airlifted sensitive electoral materials on behalf of INEC.
He explained that the operation covered preparations for the Ekiti governorship election as well as senatorial by-elections in the Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State, the Nasarawa North Senatorial District of Nasarawa State, and the Rivers South-East Senatorial District of Rivers State.
Ejodame noted that the Air Force deployed strategic airlift assets to transport materials from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja to designated airports nationwide.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, also said that arrangements for police deployment had been concluded.
“Deployment has been done. From June 17, personnel will be on the ground to ensure a free, fair and credible election. I can’t give you the figure,” he told The Punch.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has also deployed personnel to support police operations in the state.
In a statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant of Corps, Babawale Afolabi, the NSCDC said 10,000 officers and men had been mobilised for election duty.
The personnel were drawn from several commands, including Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Ogun, and Kogi states, as well as reinforcements from Zones 11 and 6.
