FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Edo State Government has declared today as a work-free day in the state to enable workers and other electorates travel to their voting areas ahead of tomorrow’s governorship election in the state.
Secretary to the Edo State Government, Joseph Eboigbe, who made this known in a statement yesterday reassured that security measures have been provided to ensure a free, fair, and credible election.
“It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that the Edo State Government has declared Friday, September 20, a work-free day.
“This is to enable workers and other electorates travel to their voting areas ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the State”, he said.
He wished everyone a journey and reassures that security measures have been provided to ensure a free, fair and credible election”.
In line with Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, preparedness for the election distribution of sensitive materials to the 18 local government areas of the state began yesterday.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner,Dr Onuoha Anugbum, who supervised the distribution of the material inside the Central Bank of Nigeria,Benin Branch, confirmed that the Commission has started the distribution.
He said, “Yes, we are here, we have commenced the distribution of sensitive materials to the local government area”.
Hired vehicles that will convey the materials to various locations are already stationed beside the CBN. The area was closed to commercial activities as buses plied one way to enter and exit the area.
Also, hundreds of journalists, from both print and electronics media, besieged the venue to capture the moment.
Meanwhile, the Edo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday in Benin offered prayers for the smooth conduct of Saturday’s governorship election in the state, with a charge to the electorate to vote candidate of their choice.
In his welcome address, the state chairman of CAN, Apostle Omoike said the prayer session became imperative, particularly against the backdrop of several threats arising from political campaigns.
He said Edo is known to be peaceful and that the session was to intercede so that credible candidate with the fear of God and love for the people, respect constituted authorities would emerge.
Omoike added that the prayer was to have a governor who would uphold the tenet of integrity which has remained the benchmarks of sustainable governance in the state right from the Midwest and Bendel eras.
While making reference to Matthew 5:9 and 2 Chronicle 7:14, the Cleric urged the people to embrace peace before, during and after the election, noting that elections should not be seen as do-or-die-affairs.
The prayer session, which featured all the Christian denominations in Benin, was also targeted to bring peace and ward off untimely deaths, attacks and other forms of negative intentions in the state.
