INEC holds last stakeholders’ meeting, pledges readiness for Edo Governorship election

Ahead of the Sept.19, Governorship election in Edo, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Monday, convened stakeholders’ meeting in Benin with a pledged to conduct free, fair and credible election.

Among the stakeholders included heads of Security Agencies, Observer groups, traditional institutions, representatives of the participating 14 political parties, Governorship candidates, religious leaders and the media.

The meeting holding at the Oba Akenzua cultural centre in Benin, is complying with the COVID-19 protocols, which INEC emphasised would be a sine quanon before voters could exercise their franchises on Sept. 19.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, in his opening remarks, the commission convened the meeting being the last in the series ahead of the election,” to discuss finishing touches to all areS of our preparations and other issues.”

He used the opportunity to inform tge gatherings of some activities the Edo INEC had carried out preparatoryto the Edo election.

” We monitored the primaries in the 15 political parties out if which 14 submitted the names of candidates to the commission by the expiration if deadline.

He added that ” We have received all non sensitive materials and have trained the various categories of staff for the election.

“We have given out Voters register to the 14 political parties as mandated in Section 20 of the 2010 Electoral Act as Amended.

” We have configured our Smart Card Readers and have sent them to electoral officers.

He disclosed that the commission had entered into agreement with National Union of Road Transport Workers, National Association of Road Transport Owners and the Maritime Union who are to supply vehicles and boats in four operations.

“We have received personal protective equipment for our personnel and adhoc staff for COVID -19

“With barely 5 days to the election, please permit me to say that we are ready for the election. We are just waiting for the receipt if sensitive materials this week and then the election goes on as s scheduled, he said.