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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) distributed sensitive electoral materials ahead of Saturday’s Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Constituency by-election.
The materials were distributed on Friday at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) premises in Gombe State.
Political party agents, security officials, CBN representatives and journalists witnessed the exercise. The Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security was also present.
The by-election will be held on Saturday, with 495,851 registered voters expected to participate.
Speaking after the exercise, Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Umar Muktar Gajiram, said the materials had been sent to the three local government areas.
He said they would then be deployed to the various polling units before voting begins. Gajiram said the open distribution was designed to promote transparency and strengthen confidence in the election.
“The sensitive materials have been distributed to the respective local government areas. From there, they will be deployed to the various polling units ahead of tomorrow’s election,” he said.
He added that political party agents, security agencies and other stakeholders witnessed the process.
“We have ensured that the process is done in the presence of all the relevant stakeholders, including political party agents, security agencies and other members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security,” Gajiram said.
The REC also explained that the signatures and endorsements on the materials were part of INEC’s authentication process. He said the process would ensure that only approved and certified materials reached the polling units.
“The endorsement and signatures by the commission are part of the authentication process. They establish that these are the materials approved and certified by INEC for this election,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gajiram urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to respect the Peace Accord signed before the election. He called for peaceful and orderly conduct throughout the voting process.
“I want to appeal to all political parties, candidates and their supporters to abide by the Peace Accord they signed.”
“We expect everyone to maintain peace and ensure that the election is conducted in an orderly, peaceful and credible manner,” he said.
The by-election follows a vacancy in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Constituency. Voting will take place across the constituency’s designated polling units on Saturday.
