The 2024 governorship election in Edo State has officially commenced, marked by a significant security presence and varying reports regarding the arrival of INEC officials and voter turnout across different polling units.
INEC Officials Arrive Late at Some Polling Units
At 7:43 a.m., INEC officials arrived at Unit 18, Oghede Ward 10, located at Oghede Secondary School on Ekenhuan Road in Egor Local Government Area. Despite the officials’ timely arrival, only a small number of voters were present at the polling unit.
In stark contrast, by 8:39 a.m., Units 7 to 10 in Ward 1 at Ezoti Primary School, Oredo Local Government Area, reported a large turnout of voters. However, INEC officials had not yet arrived. Security operatives were on-site to maintain order and ensure the safety of the gathering electorate.
Smooth Voting Process Amid Low Turnout
By 8:51 a.m., voting commenced at Units 19 to 28, Ward 4, Emokpae Primary School in Oredo LGA, where the electoral process was proceeding smoothly. However, at Unit 41, Ward 4, located along Idahosa Lane on Mission Road, INEC officials were present but reported no voters at the polling unit. Staff expressed concerns regarding the absence of security personnel at this location.
Reports from Unit 36, Ward 4 at Evbiemwen indicated that by 9:11 a.m., both INEC officials and security operatives were present, yet voters had not yet arrived. A similar situation was observed at Unit 32, Ward 4, on Ero Street, Wire Road in Oredo LGA, where voting was ongoing under the watchful eye of security personnel, although turnout remained modest.
Continued Presence of Security Operatives
By 9:30 a.m., INEC officials finally arrived at Unit 31, Ward 4, Azama Street on Wire Road in Oredo LGA. While security operatives maintained law and order throughout the polling units visited, voter turnout across these locations remained low.
Across all polling units monitored, there was a heavy presence of security operatives both within and around the voting areas, ensuring that the election process proceeded in an orderly and peaceful manner as citizens exercised their democratic rights.
There have also been few incidents of alleged vote buying by some party agents.
As the day progresses, further updates on voter turnout and election proceedings are anticipated.
Security Threats
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Asue Ighodalo has raised an alarm over security threats during the ongoing gubernatorial elections in Edo State.
He alleged that the police had arrested a party member in Ward 8 Unit 3.
“In Uromi unit 3, one of our supporters was arrested there about an hour ago by men in mufti carrying guns. Nobody should carry guns into a polling unit. That is against the law. But you just see people behaving indiscriminately, oppressing and trying to intimidate our folks,” he said.
