The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) has announced the recruitment and training of 10,000 ad hoc personnel ahead of Saturday’s local government election across the state.
Chairman of the commission, Jonathan Aifuobhokhan, disclosed this during a press briefing in Benin City on Thursday, assuring residents that the commission had completed all arrangements for a credible, transparent and peaceful poll.
He said the ad hoc officials had been adequately trained and possessed the required competence and professionalism to carry out their responsibilities during the election.
According to Aifuobhokhan, the commission has also finalised the production, inspection, sorting and packaging of both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials, which have been allocated to local government offices for deployment.
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He noted that special logistics had been put in place to ensure voting materials reach riverine and other difficult-to-access communities, stressing that no eligible voter would be denied the opportunity to participate because of location.
The EDSIEC chairman said election results would be transmitted manually, while accreditation and voting are scheduled to take place between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
He added that transportation plans, communication systems and security coordination had all been concluded, with electoral materials already distributed according to local government areas, wards and polling units.
Aifuobhokhan maintained that every polling unit across the state was ready for the exercise, expressing confidence that the commission had fulfilled its constitutional responsibility to conduct a free, fair and inclusive election.
He urged eligible voters to come out peacefully and exercise their civic rights, assuring them that the commission was fully prepared to deliver an election that reflects the will of the people.