Edo Polls: INEC Announces Deployment Of 5,000 BVAS Machines And 18,000 Ad Hoc Staff

Edo Polls: INEC Announces Deployment Of 5,000 BVAS Machines And 18,000 Ad Hoc Staff....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is preparing to deploy over 5,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems (BVAS) and other essential materials today, Thursday, for the Edo State governorship election set for Saturday. Sensitive materials, such as ballot papers and result sheets, were delivered to Edo State on Wednesday via Benin Airport and are now stored in secure facilities under strict security…..CONTINUE READING 

The 17 political parties participating in the election are concluding their campaigns today. The main contenders are Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.

INEC officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed the deployment of more than 5,000 BVAS devices, emphasizing their importance in the electoral process. INEC is also preparing to manage operations across the state’s 4,519 polling units and 211 collation centers, including ward, local government, and state collation centers.

In preparation for the election, INEC has increased financial support for transport unions to facilitate logistics and has engaged with various stakeholders to ensure transparency and inclusiveness. Over 18,000 ad-hoc staff will be deployed, with each polling unit staffed by a Presiding Officer and three Assistant Presiding Officers.

To ensure security, the Nigeria Police Force is deploying 35,000 officers, with an additional 8,000 expected from other agencies. DIG Frank Mba will lead the security team, which will use drones, helicopters, and other equipment to maintain order.

The Nigerian Air Force is also airlifting election materials to Edo State to ensure timely delivery. PDP has accused INEC of planning to favor the APC and urged the commission and police to ensure a fair election. They also raised concerns about alleged APC attempts to use fake security uniforms and weapons to incite violence.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticized INEC for retaining the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, citing concerns over potential bias due to his connections with the FCT minister.

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