The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday night began distributing sensitive election materials to the 30 local government areas of Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The exercise was carried out under the supervision of the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, as the commission stepped up preparations for the poll.
The distribution came after a delay caused by a Federal High Court judgment directing INEC to include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the ballot for the election.
The court order meant that INEC had to make additional arrangements for the printing and distribution of ballot papers and result sheets.
The SDP was subsequently added to the list of 14 political parties whose ballot papers had already been printed for the election.
As of 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, buses deployed for the distribution exercise were seen leaving the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Osogbo, the state capital, for their assigned local government areas.
The movement of the materials marked a major step in the final preparations for the election, which is expected to attract candidates from the participating political parties and voters across the state.
Speaking to journalists, the Senior Program Manager of Kimpat Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, Mr Umar Mohammed, described the arrival and distribution of the materials as encouraging.
“It is a very good thing that the materials arrived today. Hopefully, by the time INEC finishes sorting, they will distribute them to all the local governments,” he said.
Mohammed said there had initially been concerns that the court ruling on the SDP could affect the election timetable.
According to him, the court judgment created a fresh logistical challenge for INEC because the commission had to print additional ballot papers and result sheets.
“We were worried after the court pronouncement, which led to the addition of SDP to the ballot. This created a logistical challenge for INEC. We felt it could affect the election and probably lead to a call for postponement, but it is good that the materials have arrived,” he said.
The distribution exercise is taking place barely two days before the election, making the movement of the materials a key part of INEC’s preparations for the poll.
The commission has the responsibility of ensuring that sensitive materials reach all polling locations before voting begins. Such materials include ballot papers and result sheets, which are central to the conduct and collation of the election.
Mohammed commended INEC’s deployment strategy, saying the commission appeared to be giving priority to local government areas considered distant and difficult to access.
He said the approach could help reduce the risk of delays in the delivery of election materials on election day.
However, he raised concerns about the weather, particularly the possibility of rainfall disrupting the movement of the materials.
“I pray it does not rain because the dark clouds are already gathering. Rainfall could make the distribution of election materials difficult,” he said.
His concern comes against the background of the importance of timely movement of election materials in ensuring that voting starts as scheduled.
Osun State has 30 local government areas and a large number of polling units spread across urban and rural communities. The distribution of materials to the different parts of the state therefore requires careful planning, especially in areas where roads and weather conditions can affect movement.
The election has attracted significant political interest, with the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, seeking another term in office amid a strong contest involving other political parties.
The poll is also being watched closely because of the wider political implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political parties have intensified their campaigns in the build-up to the election, while candidates and their supporters have called on voters to turn out peacefully and exercise their franchise.
The late inclusion of the SDP on the ballot had added a fresh element to the final stage of the preparations.
With the party now included among those contesting, INEC had to make adjustments to materials already prepared for the election.
The commission’s decision to proceed with the distribution on Thursday night indicates that the logistical challenge created by the court ruling has, at least at this stage, not prevented preparations for Saturday’s poll from continuing.
The development is also significant because any delay in the delivery of sensitive materials could affect the opening of polling units and potentially cause confusion among voters and election officials.
INEC is expected to deploy personnel and materials to polling units across the state before voting begins.
Election observers and civil society organisations are also expected to monitor the process, particularly the distribution of sensitive materials, opening of polling units, voting, counting and transmission or collation of results.
The distribution of the materials is one of several final steps in the electoral process. Security agencies are also expected to maintain order at polling units and along major routes during the election.
The electoral commission has repeatedly urged voters, political parties and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and respect the rules governing the election.
For many stakeholders, the arrival of the materials has reduced fears that the court ruling on the SDP could force a postponement of the election.
Mohammed said the development was reassuring, although he stressed the need for INEC to complete the sorting and movement of the materials to all 30 local government areas.
With only hours left before voters go to the polls, the focus has now shifted to the final distribution of the sensitive materials and the readiness of INEC officials at polling units across Osun.
The commission will also have to contend with weather conditions and other logistical challenges to ensure that voting begins as scheduled.
The successful distribution of the materials to all areas will be an important part of determining whether the election can proceed smoothly and whether voters are able to exercise their constitutional right without unnecessary delays.