INEC ready for Edo poll, to deliver sensitive materials next week

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured stakeholders that it is fully prepared for the upcoming Edo State governorship election, scheduled for September 21, 2024.

The commission said it has also arranged for the delivery of sensitive materials for the election early next week.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at the stakeholders’ meeting on the Edo state governorship election held in Benin City on Wednesday.

Yakubu disclosed that 184,438 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) have been delivered to Edo State, comprising 119,206 new voters and 65,232 verified applications for transfer.

He said the commission has so far implemented 11 out of the 13 activities on schedule for the election, saying there are only two outstanding activities left.

He said the commission will invite political parties and other stakeholders for the usual inspection of the materials at the Central Bank here in Benin ahead of the delivery to the Local Government Areas.

Yakubu said: “For the 2024 Edo State Governorship election holding next week, INEC has been open and transparent about our processes. We engaged several times with stakeholders at the national level and here in Edo State. We have made every information about the election available to Nigerians. We have published the list of candidates, the number registered voters and the number of PVCs collected. We have made available the locations of voting and collation centres across the State. We have accredited observers and media organisations for the election.

“We have accredited polling and collation agents and made the details public. Only yesterday, we visited some of the Local Government Areas to assess our readiness for the election. We have test-run our election technology in preparation for the Election Day. We are deploying the requisite number of technical staff to address challenges that may occur in the field. We have made arrangements for land and maritime transportation of personnel and materials. We have arranged for the delivery of sensitive materials for the election to Edo State early next week.

“We will invite political parties and other stakeholders for the usual inspection of the materials at the Central Bank here in Benin ahead of the delivery to the Local Government Areas. We are leaving no stone unturned in our preparations for the election, always in consultation with the stakeholders. I urge you to play your own part positively in delivering yet another credible Governorship election in Edo State. You should continue to restrain your supporters from violence and other disruptive conduct. The best way to do so is by the personal example you set as political parties and candidates both in your campaign speeches and action”.

Speaking on the mock accreditation exercise conducted on Tuesday, Yakubu said the commission would be deploying the BVAS machines for voter accreditation at polling units and for the upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

Describing the mock election as successful and that the result can be viewed on the IReV portal, the INEC boss added that machines used for the mock accreditation and the training of officials will not be used on Election Day, saying “we have sufficient machines for the election which have been configured for voter accreditation and the upload of result distinct from those used for mock accreditation and training.”

Yakubu also announced that 134 observer groups, comprising 124 domestic and 10 international organizations, have been accredited to monitor the election, alongside 114 media organisations deploying 721 journalists.

The INEC Chairman assured stakeholders that the commission is committed to transparency, having made available soft copies of the voter register to political parties and accredited agents.

He added: “In our various engagements with stakeholders at the national level, they underscored the importance of providing security during the election to guarantee their personal safety, the protection of their equipment and unimpeded access to voting and collation locations.

“We have conveyed this concern to the security agencies at the last meeting of ICCES at the national level. We have also discussed the security of our own officials (both regular and ad hoc staff) for the election, the service providers such as transporters and, above all, the citizens that will vote during the election. I am glad that the relevant agencies have given us the necessary assurance of security during the election.”