Over 44,000 counting officers to take part in Edo governorship election, INEC says

The National Electoral Commission (NCC) has revealed that over 44,000 names of polling and counting officers have been submitted by political parties for the upcoming Edo State governorship election.

In a press release issued on Thursday, Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Voter Information and Education Committee, provided details of the submission.

The Edo governorship election is scheduled for September 21, 2024. According to INEC, the portal for submitting agent details was opened from July 17 to July 30, where 44,687 agents were registered by 17 participating political parties. This represents only 55.6% of the 80,410 agents needed for the election.

The submissions covered 43,043 polling station agents, 1,452 district counting agents, 179 local government counting agents, and 13 state counting agents. The KPU noted that while three political parties submitted agents at all required levels, one party did not submit any agents.

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“For the Edo State governorship election, the portal opened on July 17, 2024, and automatically closed at midnight on July 30, 2024, as stated in item 9 of the election Schedule and Activities released almost a year ago in September 2023.

“In Edo State, there are 4,519 polling units and 211 counting centres, comprising 192 district centres, 18 Local Government centres and the State counting centre in Benin City. Political parties fielding candidates in the general election are expected to nominate 4,730 agents.

“Of the 17 parties that participated in the election, the commission estimated a cumulative number of 80,410 agents. However, only 44,687 were uploaded to the portal comprising 43,043 polling stations, 1,452 districts, 179 Local Governments and 13 State counting agents. The 17 political parties nominated 55.6 per cent of the expected number of agents.

“Three political parties uploaded details of their agents for all levels of voting and counting while one party did not have a single agent for all levels of voting or counting,” the statement read in part.

The general election will be held at 4,519 polling stations and 211 counting stations, including 192 electoral district centers, 18 local government centers and the state counting center in Benin City.

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