The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has initiated the distribution of sensitive materials across the eight local government areas of Yobe State in preparation for the Yobe East Senatorial and Fika/Fune Federal Constituency bye-election and rerun scheduled for Saturday. This distribution was carried out in collaboration with the five participating political parties and other key stakeholders involved in the electoral process.
Speaking to the press during the material distribution at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Damaturu on Thursday, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Yobe, emphasized that the inspection and distribution of sensitive materials align with the commission’s transparency policy.
Abdullahi explained the distribution process, stating, “We are now distributing these sensitive materials to the respective electoral officers for further dissemination to the wards and polling units across the eight local government areas of the state, seven for the bye-election and one for the re-run. The materials will be transported under tight security by the military, police, and other agencies to ensure their safe arrival at the designated locations for further distribution to the wards and polling units.”
He encouraged voters in the designated areas to come out and cast their votes in an organized manner. The bye-election for Yobe East Senatorial District will take place in seven local government areas, namely Damaturu, Gujba, Gulani, Tarmuwa, Bursari, Geidam, and Yunusari. Additionally, 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.
INEC has already allocated 4,232 ad hoc staff for deployment and 1,339 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the electoral process.