In preparation for the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set key dates for pivotal pre-election activities. The peace accord is slated for signing on September 12, 2024, while a critical test-run of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is scheduled for September 10.
The announcement came from INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu during a comprehensive briefing with political parties in Abuja. The early signing of the peace accord, facilitated in collaboration with the National Peace Committee, aims to ensure a smooth and violence-free election. Unlike previous elections, where agreements were formalised mere days before voting, this year’s strategy involves an earlier commitment, giving the Peace Committee ample time to monitor adherence to the accord’s terms.
Prof. Yakubu emphasised the shift, noting, “This will add further weight to the peace accord beyond mere ceremony as demanded by many observers and even some of the political actors themselves.”
With the election date looming on September 21, INEC has confirmed the completion of 10 out of 13 planned pre-election activities. The pending tasks include publishing the Notice of Poll on September 7, concluding campaign activities by September 19, and executing the election.
Additionally, INEC reported a robust turnout in the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), with 68.3% of newly registered voters having picked up their cards. This record-setting collection rate surpasses previous figures since the inception of the Continuous Voter Registration before the 2015 off-cycle elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.
“Early this week, the Commission announced that out of 184,438 Permanent Voters Cards, 125,928 PVCs were collected at Ward level in Edo State in just five days,” Prof. Yakubu detailed, underscoring the community’s engagement. The PVC collection resumed on August 28 at INEC’s 18 Local Government offices across the state, with the drive continuing until September 8.
Looking forward, the electoral body has mapped out several crucial activities. These include the Mock Accreditation on September 10 to ensure the BVAS machines function seamlessly on the actual polling day. Additionally, General Abdulsalami Abubakar will oversee the peace accord signing, reinforcing the collective aim for a peaceful electoral process.
As the state gears up for these defining pre-election events, INEC’s rigorous planning and community mobilisation efforts are pivotal in setting the stage for a credible and fair election in Edo State.
