The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials ahead of Saturday’s Rivers South-East Senatorial District bye-election.
The exercise was carried out at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Port Harcourt under the supervision of INEC officials, security agencies, political party representatives and election observers.
Sensitive materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, were sorted and prepared for onward deployment to the seven local government areas where the bye-election will be conducted.
Speaking during the exercise, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Rivers State, Dr. Johnson Alalibo, assured stakeholders that the materials remained secure and untampered with.
According to him, adequate measures have been put in place to guarantee the safe movement and protection of the electoral materials under strict security monitoring.
Alalibo stated that INEC had concluded all necessary preparations to ensure the conduct of a peaceful, transparent and credible election.
He expressed confidence in the commission’s readiness and noted that collaboration with security agencies, political parties and other stakeholders had strengthened preparations for the exercise.
The REC also encouraged party agents and election observers to remain actively engaged throughout the process, stressing that their participation would help enhance public trust and safeguard the integrity of the election.
The distribution exercise was observed by the INEC National Commissioner overseeing Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States, Prof. May Agbamuche-Mbu.
Resident Electoral Commissioners from Katsina, Kano and Adamawa States were also present alongside representatives of political parties, security agencies and election stakeholders.
Officials were seen sorting ballot papers and result sheets according to the affected local government areas to ensure orderly deployment.
INEC stated that security personnel would escort the sensitive materials to their designated locations ahead of the election.
The commission reiterated that all procedures were being implemented in accordance with electoral guidelines to guarantee transparency, accountability and public confidence.
The Rivers South-East Senatorial bye-election is scheduled to hold on Saturday across the affected local government areas as political parties seek to fill the vacant seat.
INEC appealed to voters, political actors and all stakeholders to remain peaceful and cooperate fully with election officials before, during and after the exercise.
