The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that supplementary State House of Assembly elections will take place today (Saturday), 15 April 2023, in 29 polling units across three local government areas in Edo State. This follows the February 25 National Assembly polls and March 18 governorship/state assembly polls that were declared inconclusive. The supplementary elections will be held in Kebbi, Adamawa, Edo, and other states in a total of 2,660 polling units across the country.
In Edo State, the supplementary elections will take place in Oredo East, Ovia South West, and Egor local government areas. In Ovia South West, there will be supplementary elections in 13 polling units with a total of 6,764 registered voters and 6,734 collected permanent voter cards (PVCs). In Oredo East, a total of 12,850 voters who collected their PVCs will participate in the supplementary election out of 17,091 registered voters. In Egor, 12,586 eligible voters with PVCs are expected to vote in the supplementary election in 26 polling units with registered voters of 15,416.
The Edo State House of Assembly has a total of 24 seats, with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) having won 12 seats, All Progressives Congress (APC) eight seats, and Labour Party (LP) one seat. Results from the 18 March House of Assembly election in the state showed that winners had received their Certificates of Return from INEC. However, the results in Egor, Oredo East, and Ovia South West were inconclusive, with the seats still in contention.
Speaking on the issue, Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee at INEC, assured the public of a credible process. He stated that INEC was determined to ensure that the supplementary elections are free, fair, and credible. Okoye also urged political parties, their candidates, and supporters to maintain peaceful conduct throughout the process, stating that the commission has zero-tolerance for electoral violence and other forms of malpractice.
Meanwhile, the supplementary National Assembly polls will take place in 48 polling units in the Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency, with 23,443 registered voters and 23,147 PVCs collected. INEC has assured the public of adequate security measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections, urging voters to come out en masse to exercise their franchise.
In preparation for the supplementary elections, INEC has trained ad-hoc staff and deployed them to the polling units. The commission has also deployed non-sensitive materials such as result sheets, ballot papers, and inkpads to the polling units.
The Edo State police command has also assured residents of adequate security measures, stating that security operatives have been deployed to all the polling units in the state. The command’s spokesperson, Bello Kontongs, urged voters to be peaceful, law-abiding, and report any form of violence or malpractice to the appropriate authorities.
Political parties have also expressed their readiness for the supplementary elections. The PDP and APC have both expressed confidence in winning the three remaining seats in the Edo State House of Assembly. The LP has also expressed optimism, stating that it is ready to clinch any seat that comes its way.
As voters prepare to head to the polls, the eyes of the nation will be on Edo State as the supplementary elections take place. The outcome of the elections will not only determine the balance of power in the Edo State House of Assembly but will also have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of the state and the country as a whole.
