From Moshood Karim
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it is fully ready for the upcoming Edo State governorship election set for September 21, 2024.
This was revealed by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Benin City on Wednesday.
Professor Yakubu urged all political parties and candidates to conduct a peaceful election. He mentioned that INEC has completed most of the required activities for the election.
“INEC is ready for the election. So far, we have completed 11 of the 13 scheduled activities. The two remaining are the end of political campaigns on September 19 and the election itself on September 21,” he said.
Providing updates on voter registration, Yakubu noted that Edo State now has 2,629,025 registered voters. I
n the recent voter registration drive, 184,438 new and transferred Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were issued, with 119,206 for new voters and 65,232 for transfers or reprints.
He also disclosed that INEC had accredited 134 observer groups for the election, comprising 124 domestic and 10 international organizations. Additionally, over 700 journalists from 114 media outlets will cover the event.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced during the meeting that the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) would be banned until further notice.
He stressed that no private or State-owned security outfits would be allowed to operate during or after the election.
Concerns over the ESSN arose following the killing of Inspector Akor Onu, a security aide to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Inspector Onu was shot on July 18 along Airport Road by unidentified gunmen. The APC had accused the ESSN of involvement, and several ESSN operatives have reportedly been arrested and taken to Abuja by the police.
Egbetokun also reminded participants of actions that would be considered electoral offenses under the Electoral Act.
He highlighted provisions from the Electoral Act 2022, which makes it illegal for individuals to vote in constituencies where they are not registered or to bring another person’s voter card into a polling unit.
The Act also prohibits disorderly conduct, soliciting votes within 300 meters of polling units, and carrying offensive weapons on Election Day.
He made it known that a total of 35, 000 personnel of the Force have been deployed for the exercise and additional 8, 000 personnel from both the armed forces and other sister security agencies will compliment the police.
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