In preparation for the upcoming Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21st, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday presented soft copies of the voters register to the participating political parties.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo, Anugbum Onuoha, carried out the presentation at the INEC office in Benin City.
The event was attended by the chairpersons, secretaries, and other officials of the political parties.
Onuoha stated that the presentation of the register was in line with the relevant section of the Electoral Act, which mandates the commission to provide the register to political parties within 30 days to the election.
“The register will be presented to the party’s governorship candidate, Mr Olumide Akpata, as the sole candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the election,” Onuoha said.
The Explainer learned the decision was made due to the leadership crisis within the LP in Edo State, which has led to a polarization of the party’s executives.
Rhoda Gumus, the national INEC commissioner supervising Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa, revealed that a total of 2,629,025 voters are registered for the upcoming governorship election in Edo.
Gumus urged the political party leaders to mobilize their supporters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in preparation for the election.
Olatunde Olalere, the director of Voter Registry, provided further details on the register, stating that it comprises 1,370,061 male voters and 1,258,964 female voters. He also noted that 8,847 PVCs were transferred from other states to Edo, while 109 voters transferred their PVCs from Edo to Ondo State.
ALSO READ: INEC Releases Final Voter Register for Edo and Ondo Governorship Elections
According to Olalere, the local government areas with the highest number of registered voters are Ikpoba Okha and Oredo, while Igueben has the lowest figure.
The REC, Anugbum Onuoha, also briefed journalists on the progress being made towards the conduct of the governorship election, including the distribution of PVCs to registered voters.
As the parties mobilize their supporters, the stage is set for a keenly contested governorship election.
