INEC-BVAS
Edo gov poll: INEC increases voting hours in places
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is extending the voting hours in some parts of Edo State where the process started late in the governorship election.
A statement on Saturday by Mohammed Haruna, INEC National Commissioner in the state, confirmed that the exercise had been extended in affected areas.
Indeed, the election did not commence on time in some parts of the state due to rainfall and some logistics challenges.
According to the statement, “Our monitoring indicates early commencement of polls in many Polling Units, but there are also reports of late commencement in some locations.
“To ensure that no voter is disenfranchised, the Commission wishes to reiterate that, in line with our Regulations and Guidelines, voting will be extended wherever it commenced late and will continue until the last voter on the queue who arrived at the Polling Unit by 2:30 pm has voted.”
Earlier reports stated that officials of the INEC and election materials arrived late at Idrion Vocational Centre, a voting centre at Okaegben, Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo.
Dr Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Edo governorship election, voted at Okaegben ward one, polling unit 3, located at a vocational centre in Ewohimi, Edo Central Senatorial District.
Reports also stated that as at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, eligible voters were gathered in clusters waiting for the arrival of INEC officials and materials at some of the polling booths, even though security personnel had arrived also waiting for INEC officials.
There was also the heavy downpour which apparently impacted on the logistics of moving materials and persinnel during the early hours of the voting exercise.
The rain, which started at 6:30 a.m., did not stop in time.