The Independent National Electoral Commission has officially announced its preparedness for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election, slated for 21 September 2024. INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, conveyed this message during a meeting with stakeholders in Benin City. He emphasized the need for all political parties and candidates to uphold peace throughout the electoral process. Professor Yakubu affirmed that INEC has finalized most of the essential arrangements for the election. He assured stakeholders by stating that 11 out of the 13 activities in the election timetable have been completed, with the remaining two being the conclusion of political campaigns on 19 September and the election itself on 21 September.
Professor Yakubu also gave an update on the voter registration exercise, disclosing that Edo State now boasts 2,629,025 registered voters. In the recent registration drive, 184,438 new and transferred Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were distributed, comprising 119,206 new registrants and 65,232 transfers or reprints. Furthermore, INEC has granted accreditation to 134 observer groups, encompassing 124 domestic and 10 international organizations. Additionally, more than 700 journalists from 114 media outlets will be covering the election.