Breaking: Edo guber election shifted to Wednesday, September 28

Thursday, September 8, 2016 9:02 pm

INEC Chairman, Yakub Mahmood

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Benin, has announced a shift of the Edo state gubernatorial election that was earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday.

The National Commissioner in charge of voter education of INEC, Prince Solomon Soyebi, who broke the news of the shift in the date of the conduct of the election to journalists in Benin Thursday night, announced Wednesday, September 28, 2016, as the new date of the election.

He said disclosed that the Commission earlier announced its preparedness to conduct the state gubernatorial election on Saturday, September 10, as as it has successfully implemented 12 of the 14 activities on the election timeline.

Soyebi added that towards the end of the meeting news filtered in that the police and DSS is advising the INEC to postpone the election on security ground but with the assurances received from the stakeholders meeting and the absence of any official communication, it resolved to proceed with the election.

He said at about 6 pm Thursday, the Commission received official communication from the police drawing its attention to the need to postpone the election.

“Such postponement, the Commission indicates is necessary in view of the threat of terrorist activities in Edo state and other states of the federation during the election and Sallah period.

“The deployment of security personnel nationwide to protect live and property would over stretch their capacity to at the same time provide adequate security during the election,” he said.

According to Soyebi, “The Commission notes the request of the security agencies and considering the security implication of proceeding with the election, the safety of eligible voters, electoral officials, including ad hoc staff and other stakeholders, has decided to reschedule the Edo governorship election to Wednesday 28th September, 2016.”‎