As the Edo State gubernatorial election slated for 21st September 2024 approaches, key stakeholders are pushing for a credible, transparent, and peaceful process.
During a stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday, 11th September 2024, in Benin, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, assured the public of their readiness for the election.
Prof. Yakubu urged political parties, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to collaborate with INEC and security agencies to ensure a violence-free and credible election.
He announced that INEC would take steps to “mop up” uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and utilize the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter accreditation and result transmission to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
Additionally, a three-day extension, from 13th to 15th September 2024, was granted for the collection of PVCs.
Leftist Omobude Agho, the Coordinator-General of the Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), emphasized the need for INEC to ensure a free, fair, and credible election. He highlighted that the successful conduct of the Edo election would restore public confidence in INEC’s ability to conduct future elections. Agho further challenged Prof. Yakubu to redeem INEC’s image, particularly under his leadership.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun disclosed that 35,000 police officers, along with 8,000 military personnel and other sister security agencies, would be deployed across the state to secure voters and election materials.
The police, he assured, would be vigilant in ensuring adherence to the Electoral Act, while anyone caught with weapons would be treated as a common criminal. He also clarified that local security outfits, such as the Edo State Security Network (ESSN), which had been suspended, would not participate in securing the election.
The meeting, attended by political party chairmen, gubernatorial candidates, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, and the media, provided a platform for various contributions and questions.
INEC’s appeal to voters to collect their PVCs before the deadline was reiterated, with the commission standing firm on its policy of no proxy collection.
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