FCT Polls: INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials

Our Correspondent

Daily Courier – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive materials to its area council offices ahead of the FCT elections in the six area councils.

The distribution was carried out yesterday in Abuja, in the presence of party agents, civil society organisations (CSOs) and the media.

The materials distributed were ballot papers, result sheets and Bimodal Voters Authentication Systems (BVAS).

The sensitive materials are to be kept in INEC area offices till today when they would be redistributed to Registration Area Centres (RACs).

About 12,000 trained ad hoc staff would be at the RACs in the evening to receive the sensitive materials for onward distribution to the polling units (PUs) on election day.

Speaking during the exercise, also witnessed by some foreign observers, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said 2,832 BVAS had been configured for the 2,229 PUs across the six area councils.

He said the commission was ready to conduct election for 1.3 million registered voters in the FCT.

“The sensitive materials are customised in different colours according to the area councils,” he said.

He said all sensitive materials were collected at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the presence of all stakeholders and assured residents that the commission would conduct free and fair polls.