Edo Decides 2024: INEC extends voting time at polling units where voting started late; ‘We’ll landslide’_ Ighodalo boast

As elections end in most polling units after 2:30pm and collation ongoing, the Independent National Electoral Commission has extended voting time at Polling Units (PUs) where the voting process in the ongoing Edo governorship election started late.

The commission disclosed this in a statement by Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Member, of the Information and Voter Education Committee, on Saturday.

Haruna said INEC had continued to monitor the ongoing governorship election in Edo from its situation room at the National Headquarters in Abuja.

He said the commission’s monitoring revealed there was an early commencement of polls in many PUs and the late commencement of the same in some other 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 in the queue who arrived at the polling unit by 2.30 pm has voted.

“Accordingly, we have drawn the attention of our office in Edo to ensure that, where necessary, there is adequate power supply from our backup electric generators in the affected polling units or ward collation centres,” Haruna said.

Meanwhile, Asue Ighodalo, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the party will win the election by landslide.

Ighodalo expressed the optimism while speaking to newsmen shortly after voting at ward 1, unit 3, at Okaigben Idinrio primary school in Esan South- East Local Government Area.

According to him, we will win this election by landslide and move our state forward by God’s grace. If there is anybody at home, please come out and cast your vote.

The governorship candidate who said he was not happy with the process that delayed the coming of the materials, noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has all the time to prepare for the election.

“We are not comfortable with the little shenanigans that is going on particularly from the APC guys.

“There are rumours that they are trying to undermine the election process. Many of them have been caught with ballot papers and Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs.

“The worst is that they go round trying to buy votes. They buy votes for 15-20 thousand. They are trying everything to subvert the process.

“The Nigerian military has made me proud. They have taken charge and have shown great responsibility. They have shown that they can protect the people and I am extremely proud.

“We are not worried. We have spent ten months talking to people, telling them what we will do for them if they elect us.

“The people believed us and have accepted us all over the state. I don’t know the magic anybody will perform.

“I believe INEC will deliver a free and fair election until they prove otherwise. We will win hands down in this election.

“We are not happy about a few ongoing in some places but we will remain confident. One of our supporters was arrested at Uromi by some people with security outfit”,he alleged.

He alleged that the person arrested was at his polling unit trying to be accredited.

“He was queuing up trying to be accredited. Authorities should create a free and fair playing field. This is getting too much, particularly from the Police Force.

Monday Okpebholo, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has voted in his PU003, Uwessan 1, Esan Central Local Government Area.

The senator, who represents Edo Central Zone, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not get a single vote at his polling unit as the party is not popular in his area.

“What I am seeing here is testimony that INEC is getting it right,” he said.

“PDP or whatever will not get one vote here because this is my home and my people love me. I have nothing to fear. What they are saying about security is hyping. No knock out or a stick of matches. It is just to scare people away from voting.”

Also, Olumide Akpata, Labour Party candidate, has cast his vote at polling unit 11 ward in Oredo Local Government Area. He expressed satisfaction with the voting process, but hoped that it would be the same throughout the state.