The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s), National Commissioner for Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, has assured that no registered voter would be disenfranchised in the Edo election as long as the arrives the Polling Unit before 2:30pm.
Okoye said that irrespective of how long it would take, all registered voters who are at the polling units before 2.30p.m would have the opportunity to cast their vote.
The INEC Commissioner made the disclosure while appearing on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Friday night.
Responding to a question on steps the electoral body has taken to ensure a smooth polling exercise in Edo today, Okoye said: “No registered voter who comes to the Polling Unit Tomorrow will be disenfranchised.
“We are looking forward to tomorrow (today)with cautious optimism.
“We are confident that our message relating to voting in safety has permeated the nooks and crannies of Edo State.
“We are confident that so many of the voters are already aware of the fact that if they come to the Polling Unit without a face mask or covering, they will not be allowed to vote.
“We have emphasized this over and over. “The first thing our voters are going to do is to apply the infrared thermometers that have been supplied to every Polling Unit on election day. Every voter will undergo that particular procedure of the use of infrared thermometers to check people’s temperature,” he sasaid.
He said the exercise would start by 8:30a.m adding that enough time would be given to allow everyone who arrives at the Polling Unit before 2:30p.m to vote.
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“Polling will start at 8:30 in the morning. Why we have said this, is to enable our officials prepare well.
“Prior to this particular period, we didn’t have to pack hand sanitizers, methylated spirits and we didn’t have to pack facemasks for our officials but now we are going to be doing this and giving them some level of refresher course.
“Any voter who is on the outer queue by 2:30p.m will be allowed to vote even if the voting takes up to 5:00p.m but any voter who comes to the polling unit after 2:30p.m will not be allowed into the queue.
