Daud Olatunji
As preparations intensify ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, electoral logistics across several local government areas have shown a mixed pattern of smooth distribution, personnel deployment, and welfare concerns for ad hoc staff.
Findings from multiple Registration Area Centres (RACs) across the state on Thursday, as provided by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) to PLATFORM TIMES, indicated that while election materials were being distributed in several locations without major disruptions, gaps in welfare provision, delayed mobilisation in some centres, and minor disagreements over deployment arrangements were also recorded.
In Oye Local Government Area, at St. Mary Primary School, Oye Ekiti, the RAC was observed to be empty as of 3:38pm, with the school gate locked and no officials on ground, raising concerns over delayed activation of the centre ahead of the poll.
However, in Moba Local Government Area at Moba Grammar School, Otun, distribution of election materials was progressing smoothly, with Senior Presiding Officers (SPOs) briefing National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to prepare them for election duties.
Despite the progress, welfare concerns emerged at Methodist Primary School, Ilupeju, also in Oye LGA, where only about five corps members and an RAC official were present as of 4:21pm. The RAC official reportedly lamented the absence of basic welfare items such as mattresses and buckets for corps members, saying none had been provided.
In Emure Local Government Area, at St. Paul’s Primary School, ward 5 and 8, orientation and briefing sessions were ongoing for Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs), with personnel already on ground as preparations advanced steadily.
At Ilejemeje LGA INEC office in Iye Ekiti, distribution of materials was also ongoing, though minor disagreements were reported over deployment arrangements and the utilisation of corps members, with some tensions arising among officials. Security operatives were, however, present to maintain order.
At a central INEC logistics point in Ekiti, materials were being distributed to various wards, with some vehicles still awaiting loading while others had already moved out to their respective destinations ahead of Saturday’s election.
In Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, at the INEC office in Ijede, electoral materials were confirmed on ground as of 4:43pm, although loading into buses had not commenced at the time of reporting. More than 20 police officers were stationed at the centre.
At Ido/Osi Local Government Area (Ido II), SPOs confirmed availability of all essential materials and logistics, but concerns were raised over accommodation, with corps members reportedly provided mats instead of beds.
Meanwhile, at a super Registration Area Centre in Ise/Orun Local Government Area, Ofigba community, distribution to multiple wards (Odo Ise I, II and III) was carried out under tight security, with police officers deployed around the facility as officials processed materials for movement.
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