Sensitive materials for Saturday’s Surulere Federal Constituency I by-election were delivered to the Independent National Electoral Commission in Lagos State on Thursday by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Prof. Ayobami Salami, the state’s INEC resident electoral commissioner, said reporters that the commission was ready for the polls.
“We have taken delivery of the sensitive materials today,” stated Salami. We are currently in the final stage of the by-election procedure.
“We have the results sheet and the ballots for the by-election on Saturday. Everyone can see that we are prepared for the election.”
In the interest of transparency, he said, the panel had invited officials from security services and political parties to observe the exercise.
According to the state REC, all parties involved can view the transparency of the commission because the confidential documents are safe and undamaged.
Salami urged stakeholders’ collaboration and support, pointing out that INEC was prepared to hold free, fair, and credible elections on Saturday. He said that the materials will be sent from the state headquarters to the 258 polling places and six wards that comprise Surulere Federal Constituency 1 starting on Friday.
Twelve candidates from various political parties are expected to run in the election on February 3rd, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
The prior occupant, Femi Gbajabiamila, resigned from the position after being named Chief of Staff by President Bola Tinubu upon his victory.