1.9m Voters, 18,511 Officials for Edo Election, Says INEC

* As Police Deploys 25,000 Personnel

By Adibe Emenyonu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has disclosed that a total of 1,925,105 voters will vote during Saturday governorship election in Edo state, asserting that about 18,511 officials would take part in the election.

Addressing political parties, civil society organisations, nongovernmental organisations, interest groups and other stakeholders in meeting Benin City, capital of Edo state, he further disclosed that the officials had been trained on issues pertaining to election and electoral guidelines.

Yakubu assured the participants that more card reader machines had been deployed for Saturday’s election. He said incident forms will also be used for those who had not finalized their accreditation process.

The INEC boss explained that accreditation and voting will commence sitmultineaously.

Speaking further, he said no voter is entitled to security escort to the polling units, adding that highly placed personalities are not eligible to come with thugs and security men to polling units to vote, just as he said that after voting, voters should leave.