The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said nine political parties would be participating in the August 16, 2025 bye-election for the Edo Central Senatorial and Ovia Federal Constituency seats in Edo dtate
The seats became vacant after the previous occupiers – Senator Monday Okpebholo and Hon. Dennis Idahosa emerged governor and deputy governor of the state in the September 2024 governorship election.
Edo state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC, Prof. Anugbum Onuoha, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City on Wednesday, said, the parties include, Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others parties according to him are: Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Prof Onuoha stated that 14 political parties had indicated interest to contest the poll, but affirmed nine of them invited INEC to monitor their primary election.
The INEC REC stated: “From our records, Labour Party and others didn’t invite us for their primaries.
“Some others invited us, but we got there, their doors were locked. We could not find anyone.”
Continuing, Prof. Onuoha said the commission is fully prepared to conduct a transparent and hitch free election, adding, “Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) has been configured, while non-sensitive materials had been deployed.”
Prof. Onuoha expressed concern over uncollected 101, 617 Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) in the areas scheduled for the election and urged residents to pickup their cards.
He noted, “there are 719,504 registered voters in the seven local governments were the bye-election will hold. 101,617 voters cards are yet to be collected.”
The REC who also dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) call for his redeployment, sue for media collaboration to enable the commission deliver a free, fair and credible election.
“Even if you bring your brother to INEC, he can’t compromise elections because of the way the commission is structured,” he stated.