Voting has commenced across polling units in the 2024 governorship election in Edo State. While voting started as early as 8:50am in some units, there were delays in some places.
It’s a decision moment for Edo voters as they file out today, 21 September 2024, to choose a successor for Governor Godwin Obaseki whose tenure ends on 12 November.
The process has been largely peaceful and orderly, with security agencies fully on ground across the polling units.
However, there have been complaints of low voter turnout from both political party agents and some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Election officials and voting materials arrived at Unit 12, 13, Ewuare Primary School, Ogan community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area at about 7:49am. The police were on ground.
In most of the polling units in Ward 6, from Uwuigbe to Manpower and Ugiomo Secondary School, all located at Sapele Road in Ikpoba Okha LGA, our correspondent noted that as at 10:09am, INEC officials were less busy as party agents complained of low turnout. Some voters and party agents attributed the low turnout to hunger, economic hardship, fear of intimidation, among others.
Also in Etsako West LGA, as at 9:40am, most of the polling units visited, where voting had commenced, such as ward 1 unit 6, along Warrake Road, Auchi, there was a relatively low turnout of voters.
Managing Director of Benin Owina, Chief Salisu Ahmed, however, commended INEC for the early commencement of the election and the peaceful conduct of the electorate.
Our correspondents reported that at Unit 18, Oghede Ward 10, at Oghede Secondary School, Ekenhuan Road, Egor LGA, INEC officials arrived at about 7:43am. However, only a handful of voters were present when The Nigerian Observer visited.
At Ward 4, unit 24, Oredo LGA, 62-year-old Mr. Fatai Jimoh, who is a person living with disability (PWD), was given preference. He was accredited and voted successfully at 8:50am. He was the second person that voted.
There was altercations in Unit 20, at Abudu, amongst agents of the various political parties as they tried to outdo each other in canvassing votes for their parties’ would-be voters. The police restored normalcy while voting continued.
At Polling Unit 081 GRA/Etete RAC 02 LGA code 012, our correspondents reported at about 9:40 reported that INEC officials were on ground, accreditation was in progress, and there was law and order with security agencies on ground.
INEC officials arrived at unit 31, Ward 4, Azama Street, Wire Road in Oredo LGA at about 9:30am. Security operatives were also present to maintain law and order. However, voter turnout was low at the time of visit.
INEC officials and security operatives were on ground at unit 36, ward 4 at Evbiemwen at 9:11am, but voters were yet to arrive.
In Etsako West LGA, as at 8: 35am election materials were yet to leave the Auchi Super RAC Centre comprising four wards to ward 3 unit 20 as the INEC ad-hoc staff complained of one police personnel attached to the unit.
Speaking, the INEC official from Abuja, Mr Anthony Ashibugwu, said they were on ground to deliver their mandate to ensure Edo State elected their next governor.
On the complaint about a police officer, he said some of the officers went to the units without coming to the centre first but they would ensure that each unit has one police officer.
At Unit 41, ward 4, Oredo LGA by Idahosa Lane, Mission Road, INEC officials were on ground but no voters had arrived when our correspondent visited. The INEC officials also complained of no security presence.
As at 8:51am, voting was ongoing at unit 19 to 28, Ward 4, at Emokpae Primary School, Oredo.
At 8:45am, INEC officials were still setting up at Unit 83, ward 6, Ikpoba Okha, as the electorate patiently waited to cast their votes.
Voting started at about 8:43 in Unit 1, 2, 3, at Obaseki Primary School, Abudu.
Around 8:39am, voters were present in large numbers at unit 7-10, ward 1, Ezoti Primary School, Oredo, and security operatives were on ground but INEC officials were yet to arrive.
At Unit 18, in Abudu, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, voters started arriving as voting was about to commence as at 8:29am.
As at 7:30am at Unit 15, Uhiele, Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government, INEC officials and materials were on ground awaiting commencement of voting.
INEC officials arrived at polling units 1-20, Ikpema/Eguadase wards, Oredo LGA and set up their cubicles for the exercise at 7:30am. Voters turned out in their numbers waiting patiently for the stipulated time to cast their votes.
Voting started in an orderly manner at polling units 018 and 019, Air Force Base, Airport Road in Benin City. Security officials were on ground to maintain law and order.
