BENIN CITY- With less than 48 hours to the commencement of the Edo state governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has commenced distribution of sensitive materials to the eighteen Local Government Areas of the State.
The distribution exercise which started at about 7:00am, yesterday, at the premises of Central Bank in Benin City saw various political party agents on ground to ensure that the election materials were taken to their designated centres.
According to INEC guideline for the Election, voting across the 192 Wards is expected to end by 2:30pm on Saturday.
Findings by our Reporter revealed that political parties participating in the election are in last minute campaign and strategising ahead of Saturday’s election especially as all political campaigns would stopped by 12 midnight on Thursday.
Members and supporters of the parties were seen at various areas of the Benin metropolis using various methods to canvas for votes from the electorate.
Methods used in their last minute campaign include house-to-house campaign, use of public address system mounted on open vehicles and distribution of party flyers.
Again, various contestants expressed optimism of securing victory in Saturday election even when it is clear that the contest is between the two major political parties
It was also observed that political bill boards at strategies locations in the state capital were being brought down especially as they are not expected to be seeing few metres to each polling booth.
On a visit to different markets in Benin metropolis, buyers and sellers were seen busy in commercial activities, just as some there was heavy traffic jam in most part of the city owing to the fact that some electorates were traveling to their various places of voting ahead Saturday.
Meanwhile, some police officers deployed for the monitoring of the election were alleged to have been stranded in Benin City, over non availability of accommodation.
Some of the security operatives were seen loitering around the command headquarters and some other police divisions in the state.
Recall that about 31 thousand police operatives and 13,500 thousand operatives of the NSCDC, have been deployed to the state for the election.
It was observed that most hotels in the City, especially the GRA area where the command headquarters is located, have been fully booked as at Wednesday morning.
