The Edo State Government has declared Friday, September 20, a work-free day in the state to enable workers and other electorates to travel to their voting areas ahead of the September 21 Edo State Government in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Joseph Eboigbe, in a statement reassured that security measures have been provided to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.
The statement reads, “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that the Edo State Government has declared Friday, September 20, a work-free day in Edo State.
“This is to enable workers and other electorates to travel to their voting areas ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the State.
"The government wishes everyone journey mercies and reassures that security measures have been provided to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.”
The main contenders for the election scheduled to hold on Saturday are Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.
Ighodalo is a lawyer and business magnate, while Okpebholo is a businessman and incumbent senator representing Edo Central senatorial district.
On the other hand, Olumide Akpata was the president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)l and only recently resigned as senior partner and Head of the Corporate & Commercial Practice Group of Templars, a Lagos based law firm.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday morning, began the distribution of sensitive materials to the eighteen local government areas in Edo State.
The distribution of the materials was done at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria around Akpakpava junction, located at Ring Road, Benin, despite the early morning rainfall.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Onuoha Anugbum, who supervised the distribution of the material confirmed to journalists inside the Central Bank before the commencement, saying that "Yes, we are here, we have commenced the distribution of sensitive materials to the local government area."
Officials of the various political parties were also at the venue to monitor the distribution process.
The winner of Saturday's poll will be sworn in by November 12, 2024 which will see the end of the eight year tenure of the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki.
