By 'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – In preparation for the upcoming off-cycle governorship election in Edo State, scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, commenced a 3-day readiness assessment tour of the state on Tuesday morning.
Professor Yakubu, accompanied by top INEC officials and national commissioners, inspected non-sensitive election materials at various local government areas (LGAs) across Edo State to ensure smooth conduct of the forthcoming election.
The first stop of the visit was at the INEC office in Ikpoba-Okha LGA, where the State Electoral Officer, Mr. James Gamble, led the Chairman on a tour of the facility. During the inspection, Professor Yakubu expressed satisfaction with the state of preparedness in the LGA and asked questions about logistical arrangements. Mr. Gamble responded, providing assurances that all necessary measures had been put in place for the election.
Following his visit to Ikpoba-Okha, the INEC Chairman proceeded to Egor LGA, where he was warmly received by the Electoral Officer, Mr. Boma Bamson. Professor Yakubu was shown the non-sensitive election materials prepared for distribution and use on election day. The Chairman, visibly pleased with the preparations, commended the local team for their efforts in ensuring readiness ahead of the crucial election.
In addition to Ikpoba-Okha and Egor, the INEC Chairman's tour will also include inspections in Oredo and Ovia North-East LGAs, as part of his comprehensive assessment of election readiness in the state. The tour aims to evaluate logistics, personnel, and materials distribution to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.
Key Activities of the Day
The schedule for Tuesday, September 10, also featured a mock accreditation exercise at two locations: **Western Boys High School 1** and **India College II** at 1:00 pm. The exercise was aimed at testing the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to ensure its efficiency and functionality ahead of the election day.
In the afternoon, at 3:00 pm, Professor Yakubu was expected to chair an Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting at the INEC State Office in Benin. The ICCES meeting is critical in coordinating security efforts and ensuring a peaceful election atmosphere.
The 3-day assessment visit underscores INEC’s commitment to conducting a transparent and credible election in Edo State, as the nation’s electoral body intensifies preparations for a smooth, free, and fair election process.
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