The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State says only 121,111 registered voters possess permanent voter cards (PVCs) to vote during Saturday’s by-election in Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of the state.

The INEC’s spokesman in Lagos State, Taiwo Gbadegesin, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Friday in Lagos.

He spoke ahead of the distribution of sensitive materials to various registration areas (wards) in the constituency.

Mr Gbadegesin said INEC had provided 258 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the constituency with six wards and 258 polling units.

“We also have 24 backup BVAS devices, bringing the total number of BVAS to 282.

“We have 140,377 registered voters in the affected constituency while those who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are 121,111.

“This translates into about 86.3 per cent of the voting strength in the area,” Mr Gbadegesin, the Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, told journalists.

He said the commission had begun distributing sensitive materials for Saturday’s poll from the INEC office in Surulere Local Government to various Registration Area Centres (RACs).

According to him, the materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, were received from the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN in Lagos on Thursday.

Me Gbadegesin said the electoral officer had started distributing the materials to supervisory presiding officers (SPOs) at the council for onward distribution to presiding officers (POs) at the RACs.

“Our SPOs are here at the Surulere Local Government Office of INEC to collect the materials and move to RACs, a designated place for camping the presiding officers who will keep vigil overnight to ease the movement of materials to the polling units on Saturday.

“Every preparation has been made for the timely opening of the polling unit for a successful by-election in the constituency.

“On this note, we are good to go for this election,” he said.

INEC in Lagos on Thursday took delivery of sensitive materials for Saturday’s Surulere 1  Federal Constituency by-election from CBN.

Representatives of political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders monitored the exercise.

Twelve candidates from different political parties will contest the February 3 election.

The seat became vacant due to the resignation of the former occupant, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, who, after winning, was appointed President Bola Tinubu’s chief of staff.

 (NAN)