Yiaga Checks INEC's Readiness for Osun Election

Less than 24 hours before the Osun State governorship election, Yiaga Africa’s Watching The Vote (WTV) Working Group inspected the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in selected local government areas. This was to check how election materials were being deployed and how ready INEC was for Saturday’s poll.

On the eve of Osun voters choosing their next governor, the visits allowed observers to talk with INEC officials, political party agents, and other stakeholders about how prepared the electoral process was.

The focus was on the arrival and sorting of sensitive election materials, how ad hoc election officials were deployed, security arrangements, the presence of party agents, and plans to activate Registration Area Centres (RACs).

At the INEC office in Ejigbo Local Government Area, the Electoral Officer (EO) said sensitive election materials arrived early Friday morning. The delivery was completed shortly before 4 a.m.

The official, who looked tired from overseeing the process, said, “I’ve not slept since the materials arrived,” he told the WTV observers led by Asmau Maikudi. He added that security personnel, including State Security Service (SSS) and Nigeria Police Force operatives, were already at the location to secure the materials and officials.

The EO also mentioned that all Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) had reported and were ready for deployment. He said three Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) were assigned to each polling unit in the LGA.

During the visit, the presence of party agents was also checked. The EO said agents from the Accord Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were present. He also said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) agent had come to the INEC office but had left without sending a replacement.

“He came and left and said he would send another person, but he has not sent the person yet,” the official said. The presence of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Plateau State was also noted during the visit.

Ede North Still Sorting Materials

A similar check in Ede North Local Government Area showed that INEC officials were still sorting election materials after 11 a.m. on Friday. This suggests that logistical preparations were still ongoing less than a day before polling was to start.

Officials at the LGA stated that Assistant Electoral Officers (AEOs) were on the ground, with each polling unit having four Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs). Unlike Ejigbo, where the number of party agents was not specified, officials in Ede North said that 14 political party agents were present.

The LGA received its sensitive election materials between midnight and 1 a.m. on Friday. However, officials were still working to activate the Registration Area Centres (RACs), with these centres expected to be operational by noon.

The status of the RACs is important because they are the points from which election officials are expected to go to their polling stations before voting starts. The WTV Working Group’s assessment happens at a crucial time in the electoral preparations, as INEC and other election stakeholders work to move materials and personnel from LGA offices to the designated locations ahead of Saturday’s poll.

This assessment is part of Yiaga Africa’s plan to independently monitor the electoral process and identify any possible logistical or administrative issues before voting begins.