On Tuesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unveiled the digital version of the certified voter register to political parties gearing up for the upcoming governorship election in Edo State, set for September 21, 2024, in Benin City.
The Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, delivered the register to representatives of various political parties, including their chairpersons, secretaries, and other officials. Notably, due to ongoing leadership disputes within the Labour Party, which currently has two factions claiming legitimacy, Onuoha presented the register specifically to Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate, Barrister Olumide Akpata.
In related news, Prof. Rhoda Gamus, the National INEC Commissioner overseeing Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa States, revealed that a total of 2,629,025 voters have registered for the upcoming election in Edo. This presentation marks the 10th step in INEC’s preparations for the electoral event.
Gamus urged political party leaders to actively encourage their supporters to retrieve their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), emphasizing the importance of this process during the Continuous Voter Registration Exercise. She assured that INEC is committed to conducting credible, fair, and transparent elections, stressing that without PVCs, voters will not be able to participate.
Onuoha further clarified that the Labour Party’s representative did not receive the voter register due to the ongoing factional strife within the party, which has resulted in rival executives led by Barrister Kelly Ogbaloe and Hon. Elizabeth Ativie.
He stated that the register was presented to Barrister Olumide Akpata as he is the only recognized candidate from the Labour Party for the election. “This action aligns with the Electoral Act’s requirement for the commission to present the voter register to political parties within 30 days of the election,” Onuoha confirmed.
Olatunde Olalere, the Director of Voter Registry, provided insights into the voter register’s statistics, noting that 8,847 PVCs were transferred to Edo from other states, while 109 were moved from Edo to Ondo State. Additionally, 54,202 voters were found to have registered multiple times.
In terms of local government statistics, Ikpoba Okha and Oredo Local Governments recorded the highest voter numbers, whereas Igueben Local Government had the least.
Gender analysis showed 1,370,061 male voters compared to 1,258,964 female voters. Furthermore, 4,199 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have registered, with youth representation being the highest at 864,764.
