The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially presented the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the updated Voters Register to political parties as the Edo State governorship election on September 21, 2024, approaches.
News About Nigeria reports that this presentation was made by Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, at the INEC office in Benin.
Dr. Onuoha revealed that the updated Voters Register shows that Edo State now has 2,629,025 registered voters, an increase from the 2,501,081 voters recorded during the 2023 general election.
He explained that the issuance of the voter register to political parties aligns with the provisions of the Constitution and the amended Electoral Act of 2022.
Providing further details, Dr. Onuoha noted that 119,206 new voters were registered during the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the state.
Additionally, 8,847 people transferred their voting centers to Edo, while 109 voters moved their voting centers out of the state.
The commission also updated records for 4,808 voters who requested corrections to their personal information and replaced 5,406 lost or damaged Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs).
Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area was identified as having the highest number of registered voters with 400,495, followed by Oredo with 357,371 voters. Igueben Local Government Area had the least with 52,000 registered voters.
Dr. Onuoha assured that INEC is fully prepared for the upcoming election and announced that the distribution of PVCs registered during the last CVR would commence on August 22 and conclude on September 8.
He also mentioned that the voter register for the election would not be given to any political party currently embroiled in a leadership tussle in court.
INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gamus, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections in Edo State.
She urged political parties to adhere to electoral guidelines, stressing that the election should not be seen as a do-or-die affair.
Prof. Gamus also mentioned that a mock accreditation would be conducted ahead of the election, with details to be communicated later.
