The Independent National Electoral Commission has disclosed its plan for an extension of voting hours in areas where the governorship election process in Edo State started late.
It was reported that heavy downpour disrupted the election process due to late arrival of the INEC officials at the polling units.
In a press release signed by the National Commissioner and member of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, INEC confirmed that although voting began early in many polling units, there were reports of delays in some locations.
To ensure that no voter is disenfranchised (denied the right to vote), INEC reiterated that voting would continue until the last person in the queue, who arrived by 2:30 pm, had cast their vote, in line with the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines (the official rules that govern how elections are conducted).
The Commission directed its Edo State office to provide backup power supplies at affected polling units and collation centres (places where votes are officially counted) to ensure the smooth continuation of the process.
INEC is closely monitoring the election from its situation room (a central hub for overseeing and coordinating events) at the National Headquarters in Abuja.
“The Commission continues to monitor the ongoing governorship election in Edo State from our situation room at the National Headquarters in Abuja.
“Our monitoring indicates the early commencement of polls in many polling units, but there are also reports of delayed starts in some locations.
“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 in the queue, who arrived at the polling unit by 2:30 pm has voted.
“Accordingly, we have drawn the attention of our office in Eo State to ensure that, where necessary, there is adequate power supply from our backup electric generators in the affected polling units or ward collation centres,” the statement read.