Edo Election: Results Pour In As Inec Call For Caution

BEVERLY HILLS, September 28, (THEWILL) – Voting has been concluded in the 2016 Edo governorship election as many voters however trooped out to elect a successor to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

While results are being collated for announcement, the Independent National Electoral Commission has called on Nigerians to disregard all results being posted on the social media for the Edo State governorship election saying only INEC can declare the results.

INEC, in a statement on its twitter handle, @inecnigeria, insisted that only results released by it or its designated officials are genuine.

“It has come to the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission that some persons, especially on social media have started publishing result of the Edo governorship election, such result should be disregarded as only INEC or its designated officials can do so.”

Meanwhile, some of the card readers deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission failed to function at Ipkeshi, near Auchi, during the governorship election in Edo.

The device could not function in Ward 11 and 12 at Okhueromoh Primary School, Ipkeshi, when the INEC official attempted to accredit voters for the poll.

The INEC Polling Officer, Mr Mubarak Jubril, told NAN that the card readers could read and confirm the PVCs, but couldn't read most fingers.

“We have complained to INEC and we are directed to use the manual accreditation, and that is what we are using now,” Jubril said.

Similarly, the card reader failed at Ward 4, Unit 17, in Oredo Local Government Area, but the machine was replaced by INEC officials.

As early as 7.30 a.m. , voters were seen in large numbers eager to cast their vote in all the polling centres visited.

INEC officials also arrived early with election materials and were getting set to commence the conduct of the exercise.

Story by David Oputah