24 Hours to Edo Election: No Sign of Activity, Residents Carry On

With 24 hours left until the Edo gubernatorial election, residents show little concern as they go about their normal activities. Explore the calm before the vote.

Normal socioeconomic operations have continued in Edo State even though political parties concluded their public campaigns on Thursday in advance of the state’s governorship election on Saturday.

According to the Independent Electoral Commission’s (INEC) election guidelines, political parties and candidates had started their public campaigns on April 24, 2024, and they finished on September 19, 2024.

According to OBASANJONEWS, the air was filled with the sounds of several political parties’ slogans mixed with musical performances during the public campaigns. This is in addition to the numerous flags and outfits that various political associations and groups have marched around the 192 wards in the state’s 18 Local Government Areas.

September 21, 2024 is the date set by the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, for the state’s gubernatorial election.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labour Party (LP), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are the main political parties that have dominated the political landscape with regard to campaign activities.

About 24 hours before the poll, on Friday, our correspondent in Benin City saw that people were going about their daily lives with little to no indication that the election would take place the next day.

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The customary political tension that has usually accompanied state elections is not present in the milieu of the state.

Markets are open for business, and commercial buses, often known as “Tuketuke,” are operating as usual.

Around the city center, armed police officers and other security personnel are visible driving to deter potential threats from political thugs.

All federal government and private sector employees are at work today, with the exception of financial institutions, which closed in observance of a state-promoted work-free day.

One homeowner, who only went by Mr. Jacob, claimed that the presence of the security personnel was the reason for the calm environment.

“It seems to me that we are not getting ready for tomorrow’s election. There isn’t the same political tension in the air as there once was in the state.

As you can see, the state is conducting regular business. We are ready for the election, my brother, but I’m glad there isn’t any political unrest.

Ahead of the election, the leaders of the major political parties are finalizing their plans for the campaign.

It is said that the major political parties buy votes by giving out presents like spaghetti, noodles, bags of rice, clothes, money, and other items.

Recall that during an INEC-organized stakeholders’ meeting in Benin City, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun revealed that around 8,000 personnel from sister agencies including the military and paramilitary, in addition to 35,000 police officers, will be deployed for the election.

As you can see, the state is conducting regular business. We are ready for the election, my brother, but I’m glad there isn’t any political unrest.

Ahead of the election, the leaders of the major political parties are finalizing their plans for the campaign.

It is said that the major political parties buy votes by giving out presents like spaghetti, noodles, bags of rice, clothes, money, and other items.

Recall that during an INEC-organized stakeholders’ meeting in Benin City, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun revealed that around 8,000 personnel from sister agencies including the military and paramilitary, in addition to 35,000 police officers, will be deployed for the election.