The 2024 governorship election in Edo State is scheduled for September 21, as confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This announcement comes amid growing discontent among residents regarding national issues attributed to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The ongoing electoral campaigns in Edo State have been heavily influenced by national concerns, including widespread economic hardship, poverty, job losses, unemployment, inflation, and deteriorating federal infrastructure. The removal of fuel subsidies has also led to higher pump prices and fuel scarcity, further aggravating the situation.
A recent survey indicates that many residents blame President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the APC for these issues. The survey highlights significant dissatisfaction among the electorate, who feel that the current policies have contributed to a decline in their standard of living and exacerbated poverty.
In Edo Central, the deteriorating condition of the federal road linking Auchi/Agbede to Irrua/Ekpoma/Iruekpen and Benin has been a major concern. Commuters have expressed frustration over the state of the roads, attributing their difficulties to the APC-led federal government.
In Benin City, citizens are voicing their displeasure over the increasing cost of living, soaring fuel prices, food shortages, and inflation, all of which they believe are consequences of recent policy changes.
In related news, INEC has announced the closure of the media accreditation portal for the Edo State governorship election. The portal will close at midnight tonight with no extensions. Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, emphasized the importance of meeting this deadline.
To date, 113 media organizations have registered 865 journalists for the election coverage. Media outlets that do not complete the accreditation process by the deadline will be barred from observing both the voting and result collation processes.
INEC has urged all media organizations to finalize their accreditation to ensure their participation in covering the upcoming election.
