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Edo Decides: All Is Set For A Decisive Governorship Election

September 27, 2016

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo state has begun the distribution of sensitive materials ahead ofWednesday September 28th, 2016 governorship poll in the state.

The Commission started the distribution on Monday after it had taken the delivery of the sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Benin City.

SaharaReporters gathered that the sensitive materials are being distributed to the local council areas of the state to ease the smooth running of electoral process ahead of the governorship poll.

Priscilla Imuodu Sule, an Assistant Director in Charge of Voter Education and Publicity at the Commission’s office in Edo State said party agents witnessed the retrieval of the materials from the CBN.

Mrs. Sule informed that the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), in the state, Sam Olumekun, also supervised the process amidst tight security despite a heavy downpour.

She said Mr. Olumekun reiterated the commitment of the commission towards conducting a transparent governorship election in Edo state.   

According to her, the officers of Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Army, and Department of State Security Service also monitored the distribution of the sensitive materials.

Sule further disclosed that the INEC headquarters has sent additional Resident Electoral Commissioners from near state to assist the REC in Edo State for a smooth conduct of the governorship exercise.

Many residents are apprehensive about the tension generated by the two leading political parties- the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the state

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force had already deployed over twenty-five thousand personnel for the rescheduled Edo State governorship election to ensure maximum security.

The personnel are to man strategic locations to forestall the breakdown of law and order during the Wednesday poll.

SaharaReporters crew monitoring the election reported that the force has provided three gunboats, five Helicopters,  and twelve Armored Personnel Carriers for a peaceful election exercise.

One of our correspondents said that Habila Joshak, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in Charge of Operations at the Police Force Headquarters has arrived the state.

Mr. Joshak arrived in addition to four Commissioners of Police to monitor the election.

He said there would be “aggressive patrol” in the state both on land, air, and waterways during and after the guber election.

The DIG explained that the marine policemen would provide watertight security at the dreaded coaster areas of Agenebode and Inikorogha area of the state while the whole exercise lasted.

Also, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have also deployed no fewer than twenty thousand of its personnel to provide internal security for the rescheduled election.

A statement signed its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Okeh, said the Commandant-General of the Corps, Mr Abdullahi Muhammadu ordered the re-deployment of the personnel.

Okeh said Muhammadu has also approved the deployment of sniffer dogs and other specialized units to protect national public assets in the state.

He said the Acting Deputy Commandant General in Charge of Operations, Hillary Madu, has relocated to Edo state to assist other security agencies in the state for hitch-free exercise.  

Mr. Madu is be joined by two Assistant Commandant Generals in Charge of Zone G Benin and Zone E Owerri in the operation.

Five Commandants from Kogi, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra States are expected to complement the operation by providing adequate synergy during the poll.

The Nigerian Army has also beefed up security around the exit point of the state which links to other neighboring states.

Our correspondents noticed that a detachment of soldiers mounted roadblock close to the Benin-Ore express tollgate to examine vehicles and other commuters coming into the state capital.

Nineteen Political Parties are participating in Wednesday's poll.

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Elections