INEC has made a significant decision to extend the voting period at Polling Units (PUs) where the voting process in the ongoing Edo governorship election started later than expected. This extension aims to ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to participate in the election, reinforcing the commission's commitment to a fair electoral process.
The commission communicated this development through a statement issued by Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Member of the Information and Voter Education Committee, on Saturday. Haruna emphasized that INEC is actively monitoring the election from its central situation room located at the National Headquarters in Abuja, utilizing real-time data to inform their decisions.
In his remarks, Haruna pointed out that the commission's monitoring efforts have shown that while many polling units experienced an early start to voting, there were notable instances where the voting process commenced later than scheduled. This inconsistency prompted the need for the extension to ensure fairness for all voters across the state.
“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 2.30 pm has voted. This measure is critical to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and to honor the rights of all citizens to exercise their franchise,” Haruna stated.
Additionally, he noted that INEC has taken proactive steps to address logistical challenges, including ensuring that there is adequate power supply from back-up electric generators in the affected polling units or ward collation centres. This initiative aims to facilitate smooth voting operations and alleviate any concerns about interruptions due to power outages, thereby enhancing the overall voting experience for citizens in Edo.