By; RALPH OKHIRIA, Benin.
Ahead of the September 10 governorship election in Edo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given final clearance to 19 guber candidates to contest the election.
The 19 political parties include the AA, ACD, ACNP, APC, APGA, CPP, ID, KP, LP, MPPP, NCP, NNPP, PDC, PDP, PPA, PPN, SDP, UPP and YDP.
INEC National Commissioner, Dr. Muhammed Lecky who disclosed this in Benin City, also stated that total of 1,924,072 are eligible voters as registered by the commission to vote during the election.
Edo State has a population of about four million people.
Dr. Lecky further disclosed that 136,038 voters were registered during the recent continue voters registration (CRV) exercise in the state, even as he revealed that a total of 1,32,559 persons attempted multiple registration.
He said Section 20 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), provides that the Register of Voters for an election shall be issued not less than thirty days before such an election.
The National Commissioner said INEC would take the lives of its ad-hoc staff, voters local and international observers, international and local journalists on duties very seriously during the elections.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police in Edo, Mr. Chris Ezike, assured electorates of safe environment during and after the elections.
Ezike said the police and other sister agencies would ensure an enabling environment for free, fair and credible elections.
