Edo 2020: 1.7m voters to determine Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu,12 others’ fate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says out of 2.1 million registered voters in Edo, 1,726,738 possessed their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) to participate in the September 19 governorship election in the state.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Johnson Alalibo, disclosed this at a Webinar dialogue session organised by the Nigeria’s Civil Society Situation Room on Wednesday.

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According to Alalibo, the Commission decided to rely on the 2019 voters register and the number of PVCs distributed before the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

He also disclosed that the Commission had handed the voters’ register to the political parties participating in the election.

While speaking on the readiness of the commission ahead of the poll, the REC said the training of the adhoc staff would begin on 30th of August while Peace Accord is also expected to be signed by all the candidates vying for the governorship seat.

“Preparation is in top gear as we have received some non sensitive materials, conducted training for the security personnel that will be on duty just as we have procured hand sanitisers and buckets with tap that would be stationed at every polling unit.

While responding to the heightened fears over the security situation, Alalibo said; “we have identified flash points of potential security threats in the State and we have passed the information to the security agencies.

“Of course, the police will coordinate the central security system and we have submitted our request to them so they will determine the number of personnel that will be deployed on the day of election.”

In his earlier address, the Convener of the Civil Society Situation Room, Clement Nwankwo, expressed hope that the concerns raised about the security situation would be addressed before the election.

He added that the Situation Room would be deploying 300 observers to various polling units and collation centres.

Incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will slug it out with 12 other candidates in the September 19 poll.