The Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade, has commended the early deployment of election officials and materials across polling units in the Ekiti State governorship election.

Speaking during a press briefing on Saturday, Mr Arogundade noted that reports from the organisation’s observers showed that polling officials were prompt, while sensitive and non-sensitive election materials were present in most polling units monitored.

“Reports from 246 of 250 sampled polling units indicated early arrival of polling officials and materials with the presence of INEC officials at 75% of PUs across the state by 7:30 a.m. 

“Voting also commenced on time with 69% of polling units commencing accreditation and voting by 8:30 am,” he said. 

Mr Arogundade added that the functionality of the BVAS machine was also optimal with a 96 per cent level of performance observed in the PUs.

According to him, there were identified inconsistencies in the number of parties and candidates on the ballot papers and result sheets. 

He stated, “For example, while INEC’s final list of candidates contains 14 names, the Form EC8A PU result sheets provide spaces for 15 political parties and there are 19 political parties on the ballot papers.”