INEC INSPECTS SENSITIVE MATERIALS AHEAD OF RIVERS BYE-ELECTIONS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday received and inspected sensitive materials for Saturday’s bye-elections in two constituencies in Rivers State.
The inspection exercise took place at the headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Port Harcourt and was led by INEC National Commissioner supervising the South-South states, Prof. Rhoda Gumus. She was joined by Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Abayomi Salimi, and INEC National Commissioner from Abia State, Chukwuemeka Ibeziaku. Party agents were also present to witness the process.
Briefing journalists and political party representatives, the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, said the inspection was in line with legal requirements to ensure transparency and safeguard the integrity of the electoral materials.
“We are here to examine the sensitive materials that have arrived. The materials we are inspecting include the ballot papers, Form EC8A, Form EC8B, Form EC8C, and Form EC8E,” Yomere said.
“It is required by law that party agents should be here to ensure that these materials are not tampered with before they are escorted by security agents to their respective locations.”
The Secretary of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Rivers State and Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party, Benjamin Ogbobula, expressed satisfaction with the exercise, describing it as transparent.
“I’m very satisfied. The materials were opened, and you can see that they are signing them for transparency. I inspected the materials for all six wards of Ahoada East Constituency II and the eight wards of Khana,” he said.
“What we have seen here is correct. I don’t know what will happen later, but for now, what we are seeing is proper. They are taking them to the various areas.”
Ogbobula, however, urged INEC to ensure that eligible voters are not disenfranchised during the polls.
He recalled that the commission had earlier held stakeholders’ meetings with political parties, stressing that election-related crises often arise when materials fail to arrive on time or when voters are prevented from casting their ballots.
“I told the REC yesterday to ensure this election is conducted properly. This is his first time conducting an election in Rivers State, so they should allow people to vote. Materials should arrive on time so that people can vote and results can be declared,” he added.
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