INEC extends voting time at polling units where voting started late
Story by Jane AISO
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced an extension of the voting period in the ongoing Edo governorship election due to delays in starting polling at some locations.
In a statement issued on September 21, 2024, Mohammed Haruna, INEC’s national commissioner and member of the information and voter education committee, confirmed that the extension would allow voting to continue until all eligible voters who arrived at polling units by 2:30 PM have cast their ballots.
“The Commission continues to monitor the ongoing governorship election in Edo State from our situation room at the National Headquarters in Abuja,” Haruna stated. He added that while many polling units experienced an early start, reports of late openings were also received, prompting the decision to extend voting hours in those areas.
To ensure a smooth process, INEC will provide adequate power supply from backup generators in affected polling units or ward collation centres as necessary.
Seventeen candidates are vying for the votes of approximately 2.2 million eligible voters in the race to succeed Godwin Obaseki, the current governor of Edo. Major contenders include candidates from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP).
READ ALSO : Edo Election: Cast your votes and return home, police tell residents
Earlier on Saturday, Philip Shaibu, the reinstated deputy governor of Edo, expressed concerns over the malfunctioning bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) machines at his polling unit. Additionally, some voters protested the absence of result sheets at a polling unit in Ward 8, Unit 1 of Orhionmwon LGA, disrupting the voting process. However, INEC officials were able to pacify the voters, assuring them that the result sheets were on their way.
As the election unfolds, INEC remains focused on addressing challenges and ensuring that every voter has the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime.
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