Edo LG poll: We are elated by peaceful conduct so far – Observer, voters

Benin: Some voters and observer in the ongoing Edo Local Government Area election have commended the smooth and peaceful conduct of the exercise by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) and the voters.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that EDSIEC cleared 12 political parties to participate in the local government election across the 18 local government areas of the tate.

An observer with the Sustainable Development Mobilization, Mr Daniel Okogie, at the Polling Unit 002, in Eguare Primary school in Esan Central local government area noted that election process so far is peaceful in all of the places he visited.

According to him, the group is observing the process across 117 units in Esan Central, and has gone from one unit to another, pointing that all units visited were peaceful

“The peaceful conduct so far is very commendable and we hope it lasts till the end of the exercise.

“EDSIEC is doing a great job, they turned in materials early and voter turnout is massive.”

Speaking on the boycott of the election by some major opposition political parties, the observer claimed they probably lacked the financial capacity to contest in the local government areas election.

A voter, Mrs Omonu Momodu, lauded EDSIEC for their high level of preparedness, adding that voting process so far is peaceful.

A Candidate and incumbent Chairman of Esan West Local government, Mr Blessing Ebhodaghe, commended the voters for turning out massively to cast their votes.

Ebhodaghe explained that the turnout in the general election is impressive but noted that more voters were disenfranchised due to the recently conducted voters card exercise.