Presiding officers in the Edo governorship election have said that no electorate will be allowed to vote without wearing a face mask in compliance with the COVID-19 safety protocols.

They also insist on adherence to social distancing as provided in the guidelines for the conduct of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Oyesanmi Ezekiel, the presiding officer at Central Primary School, Iruekpen, told the eligible voters to wear face masks before voting in units 3, 4 and 5 at Iruekpen.

As part of efforts to ensure compliance with social distancing, Ezekiel marked out areas that the electorate could stand before being allowed to vote.

He told newsmen that as part of an effort to stem against the spread of Covid-19, INEC provided them with infrared thermometers, medicated spirit and hand sanitiser.

The situation, however, was not the same at Ward 5 Unit 2, where voters did not observe INEC guidelines on social distancing for the poll.

But in Emaudo Ward 4, Unit 14, Esan West Local Government, both voters and INEC officials complied with the protocols.

Hawkers of face masks used the no face masks no voting to make quick money across the various polling units visited.

The face masks sellers who sell each mask for N100 witnessed high patronage from voters who came without one.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Edo governorship election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu has voted.

He cast his vote at exactly 10: 20 am at ward 05 unit 26 in Iguodudi community, Orhionmwom.

As Edo State elects its governor today, a large turnout of voters has been witnessed across all polling units in Esan West Local Government Area of the state.

Most of the voters arrived the various polling units before officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Some of the polling units visited by newsmen included those in Ward 6 (Ogbomoide Primary School) with polling units 6, 7 & 8, and polling units 3, 4 & 5 (Central Primary School) all in Iruekpen, Esan West.

Others included polling Unit 2 in Ward 5 (Uhunmudumu Primary School) in Ekpoma which has six voting points.

Accreditation of voters and voting commenced on scheduled at these polling units.

It was also learnt that electoral materials and officials arrived on time at the polling units.

Security personnel were visible in all the polling units visited.

Also at the polling units were Policemen as well as personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

As part of the measures to prevent any hitches during Edo gubernatorial election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dispatched sensitive materials to the 18 Local Government areas in the state.

INEC said that early dispatch of the sensitive electoral materials was to part of the strategy to voting start at the stipulated hours as announced and agreed with political parties vying for the seat.

The materials were distributed to each of the councils after electoral officials concluded sorting at Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Benin ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

Speaking to newsmen after the exercise on Thursday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in OgunProf. Olayinka Raji, who was drafted to support in the Edo poĺl, disclosed that the sensitive materials had arrived the state since Monday.

Raji added that the sensitive materials were conveyed with INEC vehicles and were accompanied by security personnel, just as he disclosed that the vehicles were under tracking system and were being monitored closely.

“We were here yesterday with all the party agents, observers and security personnel to inspect the materials and the agents were satisfied with what they saw.

“Fortunately the materials have been sorted and batched. The party agents were also with us today. All the materials have left with adequate security and over there the materials will be received by party agents”, he added.

Raji disclosed that four National Electoral Commissioners and two supporting RECs were deployed for the election and that each of the six commissioners would supervise the poll in three local government areas.

“Those in charge of local government that are far away have gone with the materials. I am here because am in charge of the three local government areas within the metropolis.

“From here I will be going to the three local government areas under my supervision to ensure that the materials got there,” he added.

Barely 24 hours to gubernatorial election in Edo State, President Muhammadu Buhari, has cautioned candidates, particularly Governor Godwin Obaseki and Osagie Ize-Iyamu against resorting to violence and bitter politics, saying all contestants must embrace true spirit of sportsmanship before, during, and after the exercise.

Obaseki, who doubles as the incumbent would be contesting under the banner of Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP) while Ize-Iyamu is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the poll.

Other candidates include Akhigbe Ehiabi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ibio Emmanuel of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Lucky Idehen of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Igbineweka Osamuede of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Amos Areloegbe of the Action Peoples Party (APP).

Others are Osifo Isaiah of the Labour Party (LP), Stevie Ozono of the Nigeria People’s Party (NRS), Felix Obayangbon of the SDP, Jones Osagiobare of Young Progressive Party (YPP), and Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) among others.

But, appealing for free and fair election, Buhari advised political parties, candidates and security agents, to behave responsibly in the forthcoming gubernatorial election and ensure peace that was being enjoyed in the state remains intact.

Through a statement released to newsmen yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President enjoined voters, including political parties, election officials and security personnel on the need to choose the path of peace in protecting gains of democracy in the state and by extension, the entire nation.

“I am passionately committed to free and fair elections, but my own commitment is not enough if other actors at ground zero refuse to abide by the rules.

“I want to see democratic standards in the country raised higher at every level, but these cannot be achieved when politicians resort to do or die methods to gain power by any means or machination.

“The do-or-die mentality to politics is a threat to free and fair elections because the actors are more focused on winning than caring about a fair outcome that reflects the will of the people, the statement quoted Buhari as saying in his special message to Edo people.

Furthermore, the President appealed to all political parties and their candidates to behave peacefully and respect law and order, while  advising election officials and security agents “to remain neutral to ensure free and fair elections and avoid any actions capable of compromising the integrity of the elections.

“Conducting free and fair elections is one of my main concerns for our democracy, and I want this commitment to be one of the legacies I will leave behind when I depart office,” he added.