The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday moved sensitive materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, to Remo North, Ikenne, and Sagamu Local Government Areas ahead of the Saturday, August 16, bye-election for the Remo Federal Constituency in Ogun State.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Mrs. Saseyi Feyijimi, who oversaw the movement of the materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Abeokuta zonal office, assured the public of a transparent electoral process. She also disclosed that a total of 2,445 INEC officers had been trained to conduct the bye-election.
The inspection and distribution of the materials were witnessed by critical stakeholders, including security agencies and representatives of three political parties—Olusegun Bankole (APC), Afolabi Orekoya (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP), and Ayodeji Daodu (ACCORD Party).
Feyijimi told reporters that INEC was fully committed to transparency, warning that any of its officials found engaging in electoral malpractice would face consequences.
She stated, *“Today, we are at the CBN to pick sensitive materials—the result sheets and ballot papers. The non-sensitive materials have been distributed to the local government areas earlier. The critical stakeholders are here, including members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, the supporting Resident Electoral Commissioner from Lagos, and political party agents.”*
She added, *“The usual practice is to distribute materials openly so that everybody can see. Pictures have been taken to show that we are conducting the process transparently. We promise to be fair, just, and open to all. Every exercise we do is published, and we keep the media and security agencies informed at every stage.”*
Feyijimi further explained that INEC officials and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) had sensitised voters in the affected LGAs, ensuring that the process remained open and credible.
*“The ad-hoc staff we have trained are already on their way to their centres. The election will commence at 8:30 am tomorrow in all polling units and end at 2:30 pm. However, voters in the queue by closing time will still be allowed to vote. We have our Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) ready, along with backups,”* she said.
She reiterated INEC’s zero-tolerance for misconduct, warning that any staff member caught violating electoral laws would face severe consequences. *“We are not going to defend anybody who engages in any infraction. The National Chairman has also warned that offenders will not be spared,”* she emphasized.
The Remo Federal Constituency seat became vacant following the death of the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Otunba Adewunmi Onanuga (popularly known as Ijaya), on January 15. Onanuga, a second-term lawmaker, was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent Sagamu, Ikenne, and Remo North LGAs.
