The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially presented the Certified True Copy of the updated Voters Register to political parties in Edo State in preparation for the upcoming election. According to Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, the updated register shows that there are now 2,629,025 registered voters in Edo State. This is an increase from the 2,501,081 registered voters recorded during the 2023 general election.
The increase is due to the recent Continuous Voter’s Registration (CVR) exercise, which added 119,206 new voters. Additionally, 8,847 voters transferred their registration to Edo State, while 109 transferred out of the state. The register has also been updated to reflect corrections for 4,808 voters regarding their names, addresses, and dates of birth, as well as the replacement of 5,406 lost or damaged Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs).
Dr. Onuoha highlighted that Ikpoba-Okha has the highest number of registered voters with 400,495, followed by Oredo Local Government Area with 357,371 voters. Igueben Local Government Area has the fewest registered voters, with 52,000.
INEC is set to begin issuing PVCs for those registered during the last CVR from August 22 to September 8, 2024. The commission has also announced plans to conduct a mock accreditation before the election, with details to be communicated later. Prof. Rhoda Gamus, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Edo, Delta, and Ondo States, reiterated the commission’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible election, urging political parties to adhere to electoral guidelines.
