SaharaReporters can authoritatively report, and confirm its first report, that the gubernatorial election in Edo State has been postponed. This confirmation comes from an impeccable source on location in Benin City, Edo State and is collaborated with top-officials elsewhere in the Independent National Election Commission (INEC).
This news follows a day of intense confusion and competing reports whether the Edo State election would be postponed. Initially, SaharaReporters reported that the gubernatorial election would be postponed on the grounds that the security situation could not sustain a mass electoral exercise, according to sources in INEC.
However, subsequent statements by INEC officials and other media reports said that the Edo State election would hold on this Saturday.
It will be recalled that on Wednesday a joint statement by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Security (DSS), made without prior consultation with INEC, strongly advised that the Edo State election not hold because of threat from “extremists” and “insurgents” hoping to disrupt the exercises.
Sources have disclosed to SaharaReporters that since that statement there has been intense pressure on INEC to postpone the election.
Initial reports, yet to be confirmed, say that the Edo election will now be held in two weeks.
