INEC extends voting time in Edo poll due to delays

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended voting time in areas where polling started late during the ongoing Edo State governorship election. 

In a statement released on Saturday, September 21, 2024, INEC’s National Commissioner and member of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, confirmed that while polling commenced early in many areas, some locations experienced delays.

To prevent voter disenfranchisement, INEC announced that voting would be extended in affected areas. The Commission emphasized that anyone in the queue by 2:30 PM will be allowed to vote, in line with its Regulations and Guidelines.

Additionally, INEC has instructed its Edo State office to ensure the availability of backup power at polling units and collation centres where necessary, to facilitate the continuation of the voting process.

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INEC is monitoring the election from its situation room at the National Headquarters in Abuja, ensuring the process runs smoothly across the state.

“The Commission continues to monitor the ongoing governorship election in Edo State from our situation room at the National Headquarters in Abuja.

“Our monitoring indicates early commencement of polls in many Polling Units, but there are also reports of late commencement in some locations.

“To ensure that no voter is disenfranchised, the Commission wishes to reiterate that, in line with our Regulations and Guidelines, voting will be extended wherever it commenced late and will continue until the last voter on the queue who arrived at the Polling Unit by 2.30pm has voted.

“Accordingly, we have drawn the attention of our office in Edo State to ensure that, where necessary, there is adequate power supply from our back-up electric generators in the affected Polling Units or Ward Collation Centres,” the statement read.

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