Toba Owojaiye reporting
Benin City, Edo State
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has succumbed to pressure from the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, the Peoples Democratic Party and other stakeholders to temporarily pause the collation of INEC result and has now announced that the collation of results for the ongoing Edo State governorship election will resume today, Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 10:00 AM.
According to a public notice signed by Dr. Anugbum Onucha, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, and duly monitored by Truth Live News, the collation process is being conducted transparently and in strict compliance with INEC’s guidelines and Nigerian electoral laws.
Tension has been mounting across the state as 98% of the votes have already been uploaded to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IREV), with the race between the leading candidates tightening. The narrow margin between the two frontrunners has kept political stakeholders and the public on edge as the final results are awaited.
Observers have noted that the outcome could swing either way, with many anxiously watching the remaining results trickle in. INEC has called for calm, urging all stakeholders, including political parties and their supporters, to maintain peace and order during this critical period.
“We appreciate the patience and cooperation of the parties as we strive to ensure a credible and accurate outcome of this important election,” said Dr. Onucha in the statement. “INEC remains committed to delivering a free, fair, and transparent election in Edo State.”
With just 2% of votes remaining to be collated, both major parties are reportedly preparing for any possible outcome, and security has been tightened around collation centers to prevent any unrest. The final announcement is expected to bring clarity to what has been one of the most closely contested elections in the state’s history.