Eligible voters in Ewohimi, particularly at Okaegben Ward 1, Polling Units 3 and 15, were unable to cast their votes as of 10:30 a.m. due to the absence of officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the polling centers.
The affected units include the polling centre of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who is expected to vote there.
Concerned voters expressed their frustrations over the delay, which they fear could disrupt the voting process in the ongoing Edo governorship election.
Mr. Christopher Adoghe, a voter, noted that INEC officials and voting materials were yet to arrive at Polling Unit 3, the designated voting location for the PDP candidate.
This is past 10 a.m., and up till now, we have not seen INEC officials and materials in Polling Unit 3 where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate is expected to vote, Adoghe said.
He added that several polling units across Ewohimi were facing the same issue, with no sign of INEC officials.
Adoghe lamented the situation, pointing out that elderly voters had been left waiting in the rain without any update on when the voting would commence.
Similarly, Mr Monday Victor, another voter and an elderly man, voiced his concerns, urging the INEC chairman to deploy officials to the affected polling units swiftly. “The delay is worrying, and INEC needs to act fast to ensure everyone can exercise their voting rights,” Victor stressed.
Recall West Africa Weekly earlier reported that Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anugbum Onuoha, told political parties and the public he would be impartial in conducting the gubernatorial election, despite concerns raised over his familial ties to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Wike had recently declared that he would not support Governor Obaseki or Ighodalo in the election, labelling Obaseki an “ingrate” after their previous political alliance ended in disappointment.
NAN
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