The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied rumours that it is planning to shift the September 19 governorship election in Edo state by two weeks due to logistics issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Already, there is anxiety in Edo as the residents are unsure if the much-anticipated election believed to be a straight fight between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) will proceed as scheduled.
It will be recalled that in 2016, INEC was forced to postpone the governorship election in Edo State by two weeks citing security issues and threat to peaceful conduct of the poll.
However, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman in a chat with Daily Independent said there is no iota of truth in the report, saying the September 19 date remains sacrosanct.
He also said all other arrangements for the election such as the stakeholders meeting and the signing of peace accord scheduled to hold next week remains unchanged.
“No, we are not shifting the date. We are, in fact, going to Benin for the Stakeholders’ meeting and the signing of the Peace Accord next week. The election will hold as scheduled on 19th September 2020″ .