The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) has declared its readiness for Saturday's local government elections, announcing the recruitment and training of 10,000 ad hoc personnel to ensure the successful conduct of the exercise across the state.
Chairman of the commission, Jonathan Aifuobhokhan, disclosed this on Friday in Benin City while briefing journalists on the level of preparedness for the polls.
He assured residents that the commission had concluded all necessary arrangements to conduct a free, fair, credible, transparent, peaceful and inclusive local government election in line with constitutional provisions and democratic best practices.
According to Aifuobhokhan, the recruited ad hoc staff have undergone comprehensive training and possess the competence and professionalism required to discharge their responsibilities effectively on election day.
He said all sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials had been produced, inspected, sorted and packaged for distribution in accordance with the commission's operational guidelines.
The EDSIEC chairman explained that election materials would be distributed through the commission's local government offices and allocated to wards and polling units to guarantee seamless deployment before the commencement of voting.
He added that special logistical arrangements had been made to ensure the timely delivery of electoral materials to riverine and other difficult-to-reach communities, stressing that no eligible voter would be disenfranchised because of geographical challenges.
Aifuobhokhan said voting would commence at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m., while results from the election would be transmitted manually.
He noted that transportation plans had been concluded, communication systems were fully operational and security agencies had completed coordination efforts to guarantee a peaceful electoral process.
"Election materials will be allocated to all Local Government Offices of the Commission and have been properly arranged according to wards and polling units for seamless deployment," he said.
The EDSIEC chairman further stated that distribution schedules had been carefully designed to ensure that all polling units received election materials before accreditation and voting begin.
He maintained that every aspect of the electoral process had been planned in compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Laws of Edo State and internationally accepted democratic principles.
"Our logistics are ready. Transportation arrangements are complete. Election personnel have been adequately trained. Electoral materials have been deployed. Security coordination has been concluded. Communication systems are operational," Aifuobhokhan said.
He added that all the 18 local government areas, wards and polling units across the state were fully prepared for the exercise.
"Every Local Government Area, every Ward and every Polling Unit is ready. The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission has fulfilled its constitutional responsibility by putting in place every necessary arrangement for the successful conduct of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
"The Commission therefore assures all citizens that we are fully prepared to conduct elections that will reflect the genuine will of the people," he said.
The local government election is expected to be held across the 18 council areas of Edo State on Saturday under the supervision of EDSIEC, with security agencies and other stakeholders expected to monitor the exercise.
