By Happiness Samuel 

The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission says it has recruited and trained 10,000 ad hoc staff for Saturday’s local government election.

Chairman of EDSIEC, Jonathan Aifuobhokhan, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Benin on Thursday, said all the personnel possessed the competence and professionalism required for the successful conduct of the election.

He assured the electorate in the state that the commission had concluded all necessary preparations for the conduct of a free, fair, credible, transparent, peaceful and inclusive local government election.

Aifuobhokhan said adequate measures had been put in place to ensure every aspect of the electoral process complied with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the electoral laws of Edo State and internationally accepted democratic principles.

The EDSIEC boss stated that all sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials had been produced, inspected, sorted, packaged and would be distributed according to established operational procedures.

He said special arrangements had been made for materials to reach riverine and hard-to-access communities to ensure that no eligible voter was disenfranchised because of geographical challenges.

Aifuobhokhan said the results of the election would be transmitted manually, adding that voting would hold between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

He said, “In readiness for Saturday’s local government election, we have recruited and trained 10,000 ad hoc staff for the exercise.

“Election materials have been allocated to all local government offices of the commission and properly arranged according to wards and polling units for seamless deployment.

“Distribution schedules have been carefully developed to ensure the timely delivery of materials to every polling unit before the commencement of accreditation and voting.

“Our logistics are ready. Our transportation arrangements are complete. Election personnel have been adequately trained. Electoral materials have been deployed. Security coordination has been concluded. Communication systems are operational.

“Every local government area, every ward and every polling unit is ready. The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission has fulfilled its constitutional responsibility by putting in place every necessary arrangement for the successful conduct of the 2026 local government elections.

“The commission, therefore, assures all citizens that we are fully prepared to conduct elections that will reflect the genuine will of the people.”