12th July, 2012
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Sensitive materials for the conduct of the Edo state governorship election on Saturday, arrived Benin City office of the Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday.
Edo state Resident Commissioner of INEC, Barr. Kassim Gaidam who disclosed this to P.M.NEWS confirmed that the commission took delivery of the materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at about 4 p.m.
He disclosed that two representatives each from the contesting political parties accompanied the materials from CBN office located at Akpakpa Road by Ring Road to INEC office at Ikpoba hill.
The materials on arrival at the INEC office were subsequently verified by both the INEC officials, CBN officials and the representatives of the contesting political parties, amidst tight security in and around the INEC premises.
The INEC REC told journalists that the arrival of the materials signifies that the electioneering process has commenced.
“All the sensitive materials contain all the related materials needed for the exercise and they are all intact. As you can see, the presence of the CBN, INEC officials and agents of all the political parties have come to agreement that the election has begun,” he said, adding that transparency requires openness and this gives room to free and fair election.
Gaidam who disclosed that all the materials would be distributed to all the local government areas across the state by 6 a.m. Friday, 13 July, noted that modalities have been put in place to check whoever goes against the electoral law and the constitution of Nigeria.
He however reminded all participating political parties that posters, caps, T-shirts and all other campaign related materials must be removed from all public places 48 hours to the election