INEC clears 44,687 party agents for Edo governorship election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said 44,687 polling and collation agents will participate in the September 21 Edo governorship election.

In a list of polling and collation agents released by the electoral umpire on Thursday, INEC said the figure is made up of 43,043 polling, 1,452 wards, 179 Local Government and 13 State collation agents.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed that the commission had expected a cumulative figure of 80,410 agents from the 17 parties participating in the election.

He however said the 17 political parties nominated 55.6 per cent of the expected number of agents while a political party did not nominate any agent.

He said: “The Commission met today, Thursday August 8 2024 and, among other matters, reviewed the ongoing preparations for the Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections.

“Nigerians may recall that since 2020, the Commission had replaced the manual process for accreditation of observers, media, polling and collation agents with dedicated portals to which the required information, including photographs, is uploaded. Political parties were subsequently required to upload the details of their agents for polling units and collation centres for all elections.

“For the Edo State Governorship Election, the portal opened on July 17,2024 and automatically shut down at midnight on July 30, 2024 as indicated on item 9 on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election released almost a year ago in September 2023.

“In Edo State, there are 4,519 polling units and 211 collation centres, comprising 192 ward centres, 18 Local Government centres and the State collation centre in Benin city. A political party fielding candidate in the election is expected to nominate 4,730 agents.

“From the 17 parties participating in the election, the Commission expected a cumulative figure of 80,410 agents.

“However, only 44,687 were uploaded to the portal made up of 43,043 polling, 1,452 ward, 179 Local Government and 13 State collation agents. Put together, the 17 political parties nominated 55.6 per cent of the expected number of agents.”