By Sunday Ighodalo
Benin City, Edo State – In a step toward the forthcoming September 21 Edo governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday presented digital copies of the voters register to political parties contesting in the election.
This development took place at the INEC office in Benin, where Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo State, oversaw the presentation.
The recipients of the voters register included the chairmen, secretaries, and other officials of the participating political parties, with a notable handover to Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s candidate in the governorship race. The presentation to Akpata was particularly significant due to the ongoing leadership dispute within the Labour Party in Edo State, which has led to a polarization of its members.
“The register will be presented to the party’s governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, as the sole candidate of the party in the election,” stated Dr. Onuoha, clarifying the decision despite the party’s internal rifts. The Labour Party currently has two opposing executive factions, led by Kelly Ogbalo and Elizabeth Ativie, respectively.
The REC highlighted that this presentation was in strict adherence to the Electoral Act, which mandates that INEC must provide the voters register to political parties no later than 30 days before the election.
In her remarks, Prof. Rhoda Gamus, the National INEC Commissioner overseeing Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States, revealed that a total of 2,629,025 voters have registered for the Edo governorship election. She urged political party leaders to encourage their members to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a critical requirement for participating in the election.
Further details were provided by Mr. Olatunde Olalere, Director of Voter Registry, who disclosed that the voters register comprises 1,370,061 male and 1,258,964 female voters. Additionally, 8,847 PVCs were transferred from other states to Edo, while 109 voters transferred their PVCs from Edo to Ondo State.
Ikpoba Okha and Oredo local governments recorded the highest number of registered voters, with Igueben Local Government having the fewest.
Earlier in the day, Dr. Onuoha briefed journalists on the ongoing PVC distribution process and other preparations being made by INEC to ensure a smooth and credible electoral process in the state.
