The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Wednesday, 11th September 2024, assured stakeholders in Edo State of the commission’s readiness for the 21st September 2024, gubernatorial election.

The INEC boss appealed to stakeholders in Benin to cooperate with the commission and the security agencies, to enable them conduct a violence free and credible election.

The INEC boss promised to Mop Up uncollected PVCs, deploying the BVAS machines for voter’s accreditation and for upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

Leftist Omobude Agho, the Coordinator-General of Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the Edo State governorship election is free, fair, and credible.

Leftist Omobude Agho, tasked Prof Yakubu Mahmood to use this election as an opportunity to redeem the commission image under his leadership.

EDOCSO, through its Coordinator-General, emphasised on the success of the Edo gubernatorial election would significantly impact public trust in INEC’s ability to conduct credible elections in the future.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, disclosed that 35,000 police officers will be deployed to provide security for the Edo governorship election and 8,000 military and other sister security agencies would be deployed to manned the waterways, as well as the entry and exit parts of the state.

All local securities in Edo State should refrain from participating in the Edo election. Activities of the Edo State Security Network (ESSN), which have been suspended, remain suspended from participating in the security arrangement for the governorship election slated on the 21st September 2024, in the state. The IGP said this during the stakeholders meeting with political parties and civil society organisations.

The IGP assured that the police would ensure strict compliance with the Electoral Act and other relevant laws to provide a conducive environment for peaceful conduct of the election. He emphasised, if anyone caught with weapons during the election will be treated as a common criminal.

The IGP said, the task of securing voters and election materials rested squarely on the police, who will be supported by other national security agencies to ensure credible election.

INEC boss urging, that all hands must be on deck to make the job of conducting elections easy, he pointed out that election is a multi-stakeholder activity, although INEC, had a role to play, this must be complemented by all stakeholders.

The stakeholders present were unanimous in their appeal to INEC to consider an extension of PVCs collection, three-day extension was granted, based on collective agreement, from Friday, 13th to Sunday, 15th September 2024.

In attendance were the chairmen of political parties, gubernatorial candidates, traditional and religious leaders, security agencies, civil society organisations, and the media.

The commission appeals to all registered voters to seize the opportunity to collect their PVCs. In line with their policy, no collection by proxy will be allowed.

Contributions were made by critical stakeholders, questions were ask and answers were provided accordingly by the organisers.

Leftist Aimuae-Osa Igbinomwanhia.
Public Relations Officer.
Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).

08133733554,
08076851206,
08035183816.

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