The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has cleared nine political parties to participate in the August 16th by-election for the Edo Central Senatorial and Ovia Federal Constituency seats in Edo State.
The seats became vacant after the previous occupiers, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Hon. Dennis Idahosa emerged as governor and deputy governor of the State in the September 2024 governorship election.
Edo State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Anugbum Onuoha, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City on Wednesday, named the parties as Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others are Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Prof Onuoha stated that 14 political parties had indicated interest to contest the poll, but only the affirmed nine parties invited INEC to monitor their primary election.
“From our records, Labour Party and others didn’t invite us for their primaries.
“Some others invited us, but when we got there, their doors were locked. We could not find anyone,” he stated.
Continuing, Prof. Onuoha said the Commission is fully prepared to conduct a transparent and hitch-free election, adding that “Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) has been configured, while non-sensitive materials had been deployed.”
Prof. Onuoha expressed concern over uncollected 101, 617 Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) in the areas scheduled for the election and urged residents to pick up their cards.
He said, “There are 719,504 registered voters in the seven local governments were the by-election will hold. 101,617 voters cards are yet to be collected.”
The REC who also dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) call for his redeployment, and solicited the media collaboration to enable the commission deliver a free, fair and credible election.
“Even if you bring your brother to INEC, he can’t compromise elections because of the way the commission is structured,” he stated.
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