Bye-election: INEC commences distribution of sensitive materials in Yobe

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has begun the distribution of sensitive materials across the eight local government areas of Yobe State ahead of Yobe East Senatorial and Fika/Fune Federal Constituency for the Saturday 3rd February scheduled bye-election and rerun respectively.

This was done at the instance of the five contesting political parties as well as other critical players in the election process.

Addressing newsmen during the distribution of the materials at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, office in Damaturu on Thursday, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for Yobe, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the inspection and distribution of the sensitive materials was in line with the transparency policy of the commission.

“What we are about to do now is to distribute these sensitive materials to the various electoral officers for further distribution to the wards and polling units across the eight local government areas of the state, Seven for bye election and one for re-run.

“As they leave here with the materials, which are intact, they will go to their offices under full security escort by the military, police and other agencies.

“This is to ensure that the materials arrive safely for further distribution to the wards and polling units,” he said.

He advised electorates in these areas to come out and exercise their franchise, stressing that it must be in an orderly manner.

It was gathered that for Yobe East Senatorial District the bye-election will be held in seven local government areas, namely: Damaturu, Gujba, Gulani, Tarmuwa, Bursari, Geidam and Yunusari.

While a re-run will be conducted in a unit in Shoye Garin Abba Registration Area 001, Balde Primary School of Fika Local Government Area under Fika/Fune Federal Constituency.

Already, the commission has earmarked a total of 4,232 adhoc staff for deployment and 1,339 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines.