Security beefed up as INEC distributes electoral materials

The Independent National Electoral Commission has started the distribution of election materials ahead the governorship poll coming up on August 9 in Osun even as the police have beefed up security in the state.

Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Maishanu, on Thursday, said that the police and other security agencies in the state had beefed up security at hot spots across the state.

Maishanu said this in Osogbo on Thursday at a workshop on security management organised for security agencies ahead of the governorship election.

The CP urged residents of the state to go about their businesses without fear but warned hoodlums against causing violence.

He said, “We are ready to discharge our duties professionally and we are ready to ensure that there is peace before, during and after the election.

“We have beefed up security in and around hot spots in the state. So we are assuring the people of the state that we will not allow any breakdown of law and order.”

Deputy Director in charge of Voter Education, Osun INEC, Rev. Canon Stephen Ojewande, said the commission had distributed non-sensitive electoral materials to local government areas ahead of the poll.

He said contrary to the allegations that INEC was colluding with a party to manipulate the election, the commission would ensure that Osun governorship election was the best poll in the country.

“The commission is prepared to conduct credible poll which will not only be accepted by international observers but which will also be acceptable by the people.”

Meanwhile, the INEC has debunked the rumour that the commission is planning to under supply election materials to the areas where the All Progressives Congress strongholds.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, said this in a statement made available to our correspondent on Thursday by the Chief Public Affairs of INEC in the state, Mrs. Adenike Tadese.

The statement read, “INEC wishes to reiterate that adequate and sufficient provisions have been put in place in terms of deployment of electoral materials to cover all 3,010 polling units in the state on the election day.”