The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced an extension of voting time in areas of Edo State where the governorship election began late.

The decision was made to ensure that no voter is disenfranchised, in line with INEC’s commitment to fairness.

In a statement released on Saturday, INEC’s National Commissioner and member of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the Commission has been closely monitoring the election from its situation room at the National Headquarters in Abuja.

“While many polling units started the voting process early, there have been reports of late commencement in certain locations. To address this, we are extending voting time in those areas where the process was delayed,” Haruna said.

He emphasised that voting will continue until all voters who were in the queue by the 2:30 pm deadline have cast their ballots.

Additionally, INEC has directed its office in Edo State to ensure that affected polling units or ward collation centers have access to adequate power supply, with backup generators on standby where necessary.

The extension is part of INEC’s broader effort to guarantee a smooth and transparent process in the Edo governorship election, as 2.2 million registered voters cast their ballots to elect a new governor.