There was a heavy presence of soldiers on the borders of Edo State with Kogi, Delta, Ondo and Anambra states on Thursday, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the South-South state.

In addition, about 100 operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had also been deployed in the state to forestall incidences of vote-buying during the poll.

A total of 17 political parties will be participating in the election with the All Progressives Congress candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party leading contenders in the election.

Detachments of soldiers and policemen were also observed along Akpapava Road, Ring Road, Sapele Road bypass, Ramat Park, Benin-Agbor Road and Oregbeni, a known dark spot in the city.

However, residents went about their businesses as the deployment did not dampen commercial activities at the Oba Market, Lagos Road, Mission Road, Forestry and Sakponba Road.

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the police contingent for the election, Frank Mba, said the deployment of military personnel to the state was meant to ensure a hitch-free poll.

“Like the IGP has already briefed Nigerians, the police will be deploying adequately for the Edo election. What we have done today (Wednesday) is to hold a meeting with the strategic commanders, DPOs, Area Commanders, Deputy Commissioners of Police and Commissioner of Police who are saddled with the task of providing leadership and supervision at the various levels.

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“Our task is to provide a peaceful atmosphere for the conduct of a free, fair and credible election. We are working with sister agencies as we cannot work in isolation. The state shares borders with Kogi, Delta, Ondo and Anambra states, so the security will be adequately done. The Army will man these border areas that are far away while the Navy will also provide security on the waterways, while other security organisations will also work with us during the election,’’ he stated.

Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said the Port Harcourt Zonal Director, Adebayo Adeniyi, would lead the anti-graft agency’s team in the state.

He said, “100 EFCC operatives were deployed to monitor the elections. Port Harcourt Zonal Director of the EFCC, Adebayo Adeniyi, leads the team.”

In readiness for the exercise, the Independent National Electoral Commission Thursday commenced the deployment of more than 5,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems and other sensitive materials for the election.

The electoral body distributed sensitive materials to the 18 local government areas of the state in the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria on Akpakpava junction, Ring Road, Benin.

The hired vehicles that conveyed the materials to various locations were stationed beside the CBN, coming in one after the other to load the materials.

The electoral officers and the police were also on hand to accompany the materials to their various destinations.

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The area was closed to commercial activities as the roads were cordoned off.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Onuoha Anugbum, supervised the distribution of the material along with the INEC commissioner in the state.

Speaking to journalists, he said, “We are here at the Central Bank to send the sensitive materials to their various local governments. Before that, we signed the materials, took the political parties and the security agencies to observe. To the glory of God, all of them have seen the sensitive materials and we have sent them to the various local governments.

“We started with Edo North, then Edo Central before Edo South Senatorial District. We invited everyone; you know INEC has the tradition of carrying everybody along.

“The sensitive materials include results sheets, voting sheets, we call voting sheets form A, we have form B, is the ward collation results, form C, is the local government collation results,

“INEC had 13 programmes which were published on 26 September 2023. So far, we have executed 11 out of the 13 programmes and the 12th one ended today (Thursday). Today (Thursday) is the last day, the politicians are not expected to campaign again. So, the 13th one will end September 21.”

Parties applaud INEC

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Party officials were also at the venue to monitor the distribution process.

Despite the early morning drizzle, the distribution team moved under the canopy set up for other stakeholders to continue the process.

Former Speaker of the Edo State House, Festus Ebea, who represented the APC, commended the distribution process and noted that the idea of distributing to Edo North was good.

He said that the distribution process was transparent, noting that the meeting with party officials on Wednesday when the materials got to the CBN made the distribution easier.

“The transparent nature of the distribution is commendable. We were also here on Wednesday when the materials arrived and the fact that the materials to far-flung areas are being distributed first is something we are happy with,” Ebea stated.

PDP chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, also noted that the party was happy that the Edo REC and the national commissioner in charge of the state were on the ground to sign the documents.

He said, “We are satisfied for now. The REC and the national Commissioner are on the ground to sign the forms needed to conduct the election and that is commendable. So far, so good for us in the PDP

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“We will now call on the police to ensure that the materials get to the local government offices of the commission safely,” he added.

The Edo State INEC Public Relations Officer, Toyin Buoro, confirmed on Thursday that most of the electoral materials had been moved to the INEC offices in the local government areas.

She said, “I can confirm to you that the materials have all reached the local government area offices of the commission. I called before now and I was told that the one going to Akoko Edo arrived in Auchi safely.’’

An official at the INEC office in Oredo Local Government Area said the materials had reached the office for onward distribution to wards and polling units.

“We have received materials here and all hands are on deck to ensure that the materials get to the polling units on time,’’ he said.

The Edo State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Greg Igbinowahia, said the process of distributing material was transparent and that certain issues raised by stakeholders on Wednesday should be looked into.

INEC issued a reminder to all political parties contesting the election that all campaigns, which commenced April 24, must come to an end by midnight of Thursday.

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In a statement signed by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Thursday, the commission emphasised that the deadline was in line with section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the official timetable and schedule of activities for the election.

“All campaigns by political parties end at midnight today, Thursday, September 19, 2024,” Olumekun said, warning that it would be illegal for any party to continue engaging in rallies, processions or media campaigns after the deadline.

The prohibition is backed by section 96 of the Electoral Act, which also outlines sanctions for violations.

The electoral body also reminded parties, candidates, and their supporters that they are prohibited from appearing at polling units in campaign attire or carrying campaign materials on election day.

“It is therefore illegal for any political party in Edo State to engage in rallies, processions or media campaigns from midnight today. These prohibitions, including sanctions, are provided for in Section 96 of the Electoral Act 2022.

“Similarly, on Election Day, Saturday 21st September 2024, parties, candidates and their supporters should not appear at the polling units in their campaign attires or carry any campaign materials with them,” he noted.

INEC urged all parties to comply with the legal provisions to ensure a smooth and peaceful election process in Edo State.

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“We urge parties, candidates and their supporters to take note of the provisions of the law for compliance,” the statement added.

As the countdown to the poll continued, the PDP, APC and LP have expressed hopes of winning the contest.

LP’s Public Relations Officer, Sam Uruopa, said his party stood a chance of winning the election, having crisscrossed the state during the campaign.

He said the party candidate, Olumide Akpata, has the pedigree to take the state to greater heights.

He noted that the people should avoid voting for the APC and the PDP, parties who do not have the competence to move the state forward.

Also, a PDP leader noted that the party candidate, Asue Ighodalo, had the experience to take the state to an enviable height.

According to him, they have done the hard part of the job, calling on the people to go out on Saturday and vote for PDP.

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He said, “We have the best candidate who knows what to do to take the state to an enviable height. He is tested and proven to be a worthy candidate.

“I call on the electorate to come out en masse and vote for Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie. They will make life better for everyone and continue the good job Obaseki has started.

The Director of Media, Edo APC campaign council, Kassim Afegbua, noted the party candidate, Monday Okpebholo and his deputy Dennis Idahosa, remained the best combination for the state.

He stated that Okpebholo is compassionate and has what he takes to take the state away from its present parlous state.

“We have no fear about this election. The unimpressive job done by the present government will sway votes our way. No amount of cajoling of the public can help the PDP,” he added.

To encourage the electorate, the Edo State Government declared Friday (today) a work-free day in the state to enable workers and other electorates to travel to their voting areas.

In a statement, Joseph Eboigbe, Secretary to the Edo State Government, reassured that security measures had been put in place to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.

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“This is to enable workers and other electorate to travel to their voting areas ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the State,” the statement read.

With hours to the poll, the Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed their commitment to professionalism and impartiality in carrying out their duties.

Responding to a question on the deployment of 43, 000 police officers for the off-cycle election, Mba said, “The duty of the police in this election is huge and we are prepared to ensure there are no security lapses on our part.

“The polling units will be manned by the police and security will be given to the INEC offices in the local government area. Also, the marine police alongside the Navy will provide security in the coastal communities. There will be roving patrols, standby units, units that will provide escort services and so many others. So, there is a need for a high number of officers involved.

“It is also an off-cycle election and it can be problematic because of other idle politicians coming into the state to cause some problems and we don’t want that to happen. My message to Edo people is that irrespective of the number of policemen and other security agencies on the ground, we are here to provide security and not intimidate anyone.

“This election has witnessed the best synergy between all the security outfits and we will operate within the provision of the law.”

Vote buyers

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On vote-buying, he said this started from homes and not even on the election ground.

‘’As we are talking now, people can engage in vote-buying but we will work within the law to ensure that does not happen,’’ Mba said.

Also speaking on their preparedness for the poll, Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, pledged they would ensure a credible and hitch-free poll.

The PDP had accused the police of colluding with the APC to rig the election but speaking Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Adejobi, dismissed the allegations that the police are siding with a political party and targeting opposition members.

He stated, “And let me take the opportunity to say that we are going to do our job in Edo. Edo is here in 2024. We want to appeal to all of them, let us play the game according to the rules of the game. Let every individual, and every stakeholder, perform their duty as expected. And we are going to get it right.

“We expect to have free, fair, and credible elections in those states (Edo and Ondo). The IGP has said it, and I want to reiterate tonight that we will remain professional and impartial, and of course, we will carry out our duties with excellence.”

In response to questions about those arrested in Edo State, Adejobi clarified that the individuals were apprehended in connection with the murder of a police officer, emphasizing that the police do not have information about their political affiliations.

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He stated, “We have conducted our scientific investigation and forensic analysis of the incidents, and we have identified some individuals who have been found guilty in this case. Therefore, for anyone to claim that we are targeting members of a political party is unfair and not acceptable.

“We want everyone to be reasonable and understand that we will not fold our arms. The IGP, as the top policeman, does not sit idly by while his men are killed.

“We always emphasise that this is not the first time we have pursued those responsible for the deaths of our policemen. This is not an exceptional case. We are actively pursuing this case, it is in court and for those still involved, we are expanding the scope of our investigation to ensure we hold them accountable.”

Meanwhile, a civil society group, Yiaga Africa, says it can detect fake results at the end of the poll.

The Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, disclosed that Yiaga Africa would deploy a total of 325 trained and accredited observers, both stationary and roving, to monitor the Edo State governorship election.

“This includes 300 stationary observers who will be placed at a randomly selected sample of 300 polling units across the 18 local government areas.

“INEC must also maintain consistency in applying its guidelines, particularly regarding the suspension of elections due to significant disruptions, the cancellation of votes in cases of over-voting and the application of the margin of lead principle,” Itodo added.

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Black spots

Earlier, Yiaga Africa’s chairperson of the 2024 Edo Election Mission, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, urged INEC to demonstrate its capacity to conduct a transparent, credible and efficient election.

This is even as she urged the voters to demonstrate resilience by turning up to vote.

“Voters should also resist attempts at vote-buying, intimidation and manipulation before, during and after the election,” Abdullahi added.

Abdullahi identified eight local government areas of Edo State as hotspots for violence in the election, urging security agencies to ensure adequate deployment of personnel.

The group listed the LGs as Ikpoba/Okha, Oredo, Egor, Ovia South West, Ovia North East, Esan South East, Etsako West and Etsako East.

”The volatile security environment in these LG’s necessitates a strategic and neutral deployment of security forces,” Abdullahi said in a statement.

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“Yiaga Africa notes the tense and volatile political climate for the election. The campaign period was a signpost with strong-arm tactics and violence. The activities of cult groups and political thugs intensified amid the employment of violence and intimidation to suppress specific units and LGAs.”

On vote-buying, the group noted, “Yiaga Africa observed multiple instances of voters’ inducement during the pre-election campaign period in Edo State. Political parties and politicians continue to distribute cash, gifts and food items to entice voters.

“These practices of voter inducement undermine the integrity of the electoral process, as they can distort the free will of the electorate and compromise the democratic principle of free and fair elections. Yiaga Africa is concerned that this practice may extend to Election Day, turning the polling units into the epicentre of vote buying.”

As part of its support for a hitch-free poll, the Edo State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria on Thursday offered prayers for the smooth conduct of the governorship election with a charge to the electorate to vote for the candidate of their choice.