Edo 2024: INEC Chairman Assures of Successful Election, Says We’re Prepared
2 min read
By the Editor
Ahead of the September 21 Edo State governorship election, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, Thursday in Benin assured Edo people that the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise will continue despite the recent flood water which ravaged the commission headquarters in the state.
Prof. Yakubu who spoke during an on-the-spot-assessment visit to the facilities and the staff of the Edo State headquarters office of the commission said he was informed by the unfortunate incident that befell the office in Edo State and so, he decided to come and see things for himself.
He said: “We are here basically to see what happened to our facilities following the unexpected torrential rain fall and flooding that occurred and even importantly, for us to come and meet with you, the staff in the Edo office.
“We thank God no life was lost. We thank God, no injuries but we want to assure you that despite the extensive damage, we have recovered the Continuous Voters Registration exercise, we are ready to conduct the governorship election in Edo State come September.”
He continued: “We have three months and three weeks to the election from today and whatever we have lost in terms of critical equipment, whatever facilities we need to replace, whatever office facilities we need to replace, we will do so.”
Sounding upbeat, Prof Mahmud assured that voters in the state have nothing to worry about as the commission will leverage on the facilities from the neighbouring states to augument for the shortfalls in Edo State, noting that an off cycle election, the commission can rely on its resources from neighbouring states for a successful election.
The INEC boss declared that it is only during general election that each state office is self-sufficient, adding that the commission can call for additional resources from neighbouring states to ensure that there are no issues in the election.
He said: “Whatever we need for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election, we will provide.”
He said that the commission has a lot of experience in handling governorship elections in Edo State, stressing that after conducting two successful governorsip elections in the state, he will repeat the feat for the third time.
Prof. Mahmud recalled: “We conducted the 2016 election. We conducted the September 2020 election, and above, we are approaching September 2024. The CVR which is ongoing will not be affected. Whatever issues and challenges we have, we will listen to the REC (Resident Electoral Commissioner) and its team and we will continue to respond.
“So, let me reassure Edo voters that the CVR will continue in spite of the slight setback that we have experienced and that the preparation for the governorship election is also going to continue.”
