By Taiwo Amodu, Benin
As voters go to the polling centres today in Edo State to exercise their franchise and elect Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s successor whose two-term ends on November 10, the body saddled with the conduct of the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday reinforced its preparation for the process.
Updating Daily Sun on its preparation, spokesperson of the Commission, Nick Dazang said all sensitive materials for the exercise were distributed on Monday to all the 18 local Council areas.
“We have done a lot of things. We have distributed sensitive materials to the local government. Today (Tuesday), we are moving them to all the 192 wards across the state. So, first thing in the morning, our staff will move the materials to polling centres.”
Speaking further the INEC spokesperson said the Commission has reconfigured its smart cards readers to comply with the rescheduled date.
“ You know, in the course of the postponement, we had to reconfigure the card readers in line with the new date. Also today, we are going to activate INEC contact centers, where we shall be receiving reports from the fields. So, we are fully prepared; we don’t have challenges.”
The election was shifted by 18 days over security concerns.
Daily Sun gathered that following the declaration of public holidays, ahead of today polls, vehicular and human traffic across major streets in Benin, the state capital were less pronounced yesterday, unlike on Monday when political parties engaged in last minute mop up campaigns in major roads in Benin City and the major cities.
At press time, the be low-rise electioneering to capture undecided voters had moved to the various wards and units.
To reinforce its determination for a violence free election, heavy presence of police and other security personnel was visible in the state capital and across the 18 LGAs.
The two major contenders namely Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hail from the south senatorial zone. The zone account for seven LGAs. The APC running mate comes from Etsako in the north zone as the incumbent governor while the PDP running mate is from Central zone. It has five LGAs and believed to be the opposition stronghold.
Meanwhile, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has alleged that the main political parties were plotting to rig the election.
He said:” For me, the security agencies are doing well. I can see the level of preparation they have. I can see them parading the streets of Benin and borders with our neighbors.
“I want to say that INEC shouldn’t make this election inconclusive, because Edo people want to speak with their voters’ cards.
“I also want to say that both PDP and APC are plotting to rig. I want to call on INEC and the police to be vigilant, especially in Edo south and north. For 17 years, the two parties have encouraged cultism and hooliganism. I want to encourage security agencies to check all the flash points. I wish all the votes count.”