Edo Election Voters Population can be assessed below. 

Edo South

• Oredo

Registered voters  – 313,553

PVCs collected  – 240,197

• Ikpoba/Okha

Registered voters  – 315,410

PVCs collected  – 214,822

• Egor

Registered voters  – 219,832

PVCs collected – 158,817

• Ovia Northeast

Registered voters  – 143,009

PVCs collected – 113,167

• Ovia Southwest

Registered voters  – 96,409

PVCs collected – 77,468

• Orhiomwon

Registered voters – 118,672;

PVCs collected – 102,739

• Uhunmwode

Registered voters  – 74,529

PVCs collected  – 57,290

Edo North

• Etsako West

Registered voters – 160,137

PVCs collected – 128,188

• Etsako East

Registered voters – 81,639

PVCs collected  – 67,715

• Etsako Central

Registered voters – 84,245;

PVCs collected – 42,042

• Akoko Edo

Registered voters – 119,254;

PVCs collected – 115,343

• Owan West

Registered voters – 61,193;

PVCs collected  – 46,245

• Owan East

Registered voters – 91,841

PVCs collected – 77,827

Edo Central

• Esan West

Registered voters – 99,983

PVCs collected  – 83,467

• Esan Central:

Registered voters  – 50,058;

PVCs collected – 42,042

• Esan Northeast

Registered voters – 84,245;

PVCs collected  – 66,790

• Esan Southeast

Registered voters – 76,842;

PVCs collected  – 58,802

Benin City In Festive Mood Ahead Of Edo Guber Poll

Barely 24 hours to the governorship election in Edo, the atmosphere on the streets in Benin City, the state capital, is electric.

Security has been deployed in several parts of the city ahead of the contest.

It is evident that an important event is impending.

For instance, the road that leads to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), where the sensitive materials that would be used for the election are being kept, has been cordoned off with traffic restricted to one part of the road.

These developments, in addition to increasing floods caused by torrential rainfall in the city, has led to heavy traffic in different parts of the city.

On Wednesday evening, a group of women spotting a uniform made from ankara fabric, were seen along Federal Avenue, GRA, Benin City, carrying bags with the logo of a particular political party.

One of the passers-by on the street said they had just been mobilised to go out and canvass for votes in their respective areas.

There is heavy vehicular movement on major roads in the capital city, particularly the Airport Road with the increasing influx of people into the state for the election.

IGP Orders 12-Hour Vehicular Restrictions In Edo

Nigeria Police Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu has ordered for 12-hour vehicular restrictions in the state ahead of the Saturday poll.

CityNews Nigeria  reports that there will be no vehicular movement from 11:59 pm on Friday to 6 pm on Saturday in Edo, the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu has directed.

According to the Police Boss, the restriction was aimed at ensuring public order and safety during Saturday’s governorship elections in the state.

According to a statement by spokesman, Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), the order followed the need to prevent the free flow, circulation and use of illicit arms and hard drugs.

He said it will also checkmate the movement of political thugs, touts and other criminally-minded individuals especially from contiguous states who may want to hijack and disrupt the electoral process.

The IG, Mba said, enjoined citizens to go out en-masse on the day of the election and vote, noting that the police and other security agencies have been sufficiently mobilised to provide a safe, secure and conducive environment for the election.

“While regretting any inconveniences the restriction order may cause the citizens, the IG enjoins the citizens to see the restriction as part of necessary sacrifices towards the enthronement of democracy.

“He however warns that the Force will not sit idly-by and watch citizens who may want to engage in any criminal act- violent and destructive acts, snatching of ballot boxes, vote buying, vote selling, hate speeches, and other act(s) capable of compromising the electoral processes,” said Mba.

Registered Voters, PVC Collection By LGAs

Edo South is the dominant district in terms of registered voters and PVC collection.

The district has 1,281,414 registered voters, according to YIAGA, quoting INEC figures. In the zone, 78.1 per cent of the PVCs have been collected.

Conversely Edo North has 564,122 registered voters; 84 per cent of the PVCs have been collected.

In Edo Central, the total registered voters are 364,998; out of which 74.4 per cent have been collected.

Below is the breakdown:

Edo South

Oredo:

Registered voters 313,553;

PVCs collected 240,197

Ikpoba/Okha:

Registered voters 315,410;

PVCs collected 214,822

Egor:

Registered voters 219,832;

PVCs collected 158,817

Ovia Northeast:

Registered voters 143,009;

PVCs collected 113,167

Ovia Southwest:

Registered voters 96,409;

PVCs collected 77,468

Orhiomwon:

Registered voters 118,672;

PVCs collected 102,739

Uhunmwode:

Registered voters 74,529;

PVCs collected 57,290

Edo North

Etsako West:

Registered voters 160,137;

PVCs collected 128,188

Etsako East:

Registered voters 81,639;

PVCs collected 67,715

Etsako Central:

Registered voters 84,245;

PVCs collected 42,042

Akoko Edo:

Registered voters 119,254;

PVCs collected 115,343

Owan West:

Registered voters 61,193;

PVCs collected 46,245

Owan East:

Registered voters 91,841;

PVCs collected 77,827

Edo Central

Esan West:

Registered voters 99,983;

PVCs collected 83,467

Esan Central:

Registered voters 50,058;

PVCs collected 42,042

Esan Northeast:

Registered voters 84,245;

PVCs collected 66,790

Esan Southeast:

Registered voters 76,842;

PVCs collected 58,802

Igueben:

Registered voters 46,828;

PVCs collected 34,988

Edo Polls: INEC Distributes Sensitive Materials To Lgas 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Thursday commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials to the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Edo State.

The materials which were housed at the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Benin City, began early afternoon with the farthest LGA.

Addressing reporters at the CBN premises, INEC’s head of voter education and publicity, Timidi Wariowei, said the exercise commenced with the farthest LGAs, adding that 11 LGs have so far been distributed.

“We started from Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, Owan East and Owan West among others. Some have gone and others are completely loaded and are sorting out their security escort. Very soon materials will move to all the local governments,” he said.

He said from the LGs, the materials will move to Registration Areas Centres (RACs) and from the RACs they would move to the polling units and voting points on Saturday morning.

Wariowei said he was satisfied at the preparation by INEC, adding that the commission was fully ready for the elections on Saturday.

Police, Soldiers Patrol Benin In Show Of Force

In an apparent show of force, security agencies on Thursday patrolled the nooks and crannies of Edo State displaying the array of weapons and personnel deployed for the exercise.

A security convoy led by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of security for the polls combed various parts of Edo South, stopping at intervals to assure the people of their safety.

Our reporters observed several Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) carrying armed military and police operatives, armoured tanks, hilux vehicles and buses filled with security agents touring different parts of the metropolis, while road blocks are mounted in strategic areas with the police searching vehicles for possible exhibits.

Already, some of the 31,000 cops deployed for the election by the Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Adamu have been deployed to the hinterland and riverine communities to prevent thugs from wreaking havoc.

It was gathered that a Commissioner of Police (CP) was deployed to each of the identified strongholds to coordinate security activities and report to the DIG while bulk of the security forces would man Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas (LGAs), which are considered to have the highest number of voters.

Addressing the joint security patrols, DIG Oyebade said he was happy they received timely information and acted on same to prevent unpleasant situations.

Although he did not give further details about it, the DIG warned politicians having clandestine meetings to disrupt the electoral processes to desist or face the wrath of the law.

He said: “We have some information and were able to get it early. So, we will continue the show of force across all the senatorial districts.

“I am using this opportunity to sound note of warning to those of them holding clandestine meetings; all those that think they can do and undo to make this election a fallacy will not be allowed.

“The reason behind this operation is that we must work together as a team because we are members of the same family. When you see yourself in the NSCDC, the navy, army, Airforce or police; we have a common goal.

“That common goal is to ensure a free, fair and credible election and to protect lives and properties of the electorates.

“The second reason is to send signal to the bad boys. That wherever they are, we will fish them out and we are ready.

“Also, we are telling the electorates they are safe. That they should feel free and come out on the day of the election.

“Most people sometimes do not read our intention clearly. Showing of force is not to intimidate members of the public, rather it is to reassure them we are ready to protect them and to respect the fundamental rights of the citizens before, during and after the election.”

Continuing, Oyebade urged the security agents to remain professional. He said they must be fair but tough, adding that they must ensure no loss of lives.

“We know that we must be professional. When you are doing your job, do it with all fairness. We do not want to lose anybody.

“We will be fair and at the same time tough. That is the message and I can assure you that the Inspector General of Police (IG) sent you to protect lives and properties.

“It is when you are alive that you can be responsible to protect lives and property. So, you go back and continue to do your work. We appreciate you and the synergy must continue. The Nigeria Police as the lead agency in election duties will always work in collaboration and with corporation of other security agencies so that together we can achieve the target,” he said.

Aside the show of force and road blocks, there were also heavy police presence at the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) temporary office along Sapele Road as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Benin where accreditation and distribution of electoral materials were going on respectively.

At the INEC office, observers who spoke to our reporters said they were satisfied with the processes thus far, adding that the INEC officials have been approachable and accessible.
An observer with CLEEN Foundation, Mrs. Blessing Emoron said they were hopeful the election would be peaceful.

She said the security agents have been trained to avoid indiscriminate use of firearms, adding that they have so far conducted themselves creditably.
“I have not really seen anything that I can term to be out of place. I think everything that they are doing is just to be prepared. As an observer, I have been well equipped to know what to do, when to do it and how to do it.

“My advice to every observer, when you are there observing, let’s know our roles, we are not security agents, let us not try to mediate in fight. We are not police. Let’s know our place and stay in our place.