Fuel Price Hike, Poverty, Hunger Will Influence Votes In Edo Election – Mayaki

The forthcoming governorship election in Edo State would be influenced significantly by factors including the hike in the price of fuel, poverty, hunger and growing inflation in the country, says John Mayaki, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Naija News reports that the 2024 governorship election in Edo is set for September 21.

Referring to a recent survey, Mayaki noted that many individuals hold the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal level responsible for these pressing issues.

In a statement he signed and made available to newsmen on Wednesday, Mayaki said: “Ongoing electoral campaigns in Edo State have been dominated by national issues, including widespread hardship, endemic poverty,  job losses and unemployment, inflation, poor and impassable federal roads, the removal of fuel subsidies resulting in higher pump prices and scarcity, and insecurity.

“These problems have been widely blamed on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC.

“An independent opinion poll conducted by researchers and journalists specializing in pre-election monitoring has revealed general dissatisfaction and discontent among a majority of people across Edo State. Respondents expressed concerns about their declining standard of living, despondency, and pervasive poverty, all of which they attribute to the policies of the ruling party.”

The declining state of the federal road connecting the Auchi/Agbede route to the Irrua/Ekpoma/Iruekpen and Benin areas is a significant issue in Edo Central.

Residents attribute the hardships faced by commuters to the APC-led federal government, expressing disbelief that anyone would support a party that has contributed to their economic struggles.

Furthermore, it has been reported that in Benin City, citizens are expressing their discontent regarding the rising cost of living, escalating fuel prices, food shortages, inflation, and eliminating fuel subsidies.

INEC Closes Media Accreditation For Edo Governorship Election

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the closure of the media accreditation portal for the upcoming Edo State governorship election, scheduled for September 21, 2024.

According to INEC, the portal will close at midnight tonight with no extensions.

This announcement was made by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, in a statement released on Wednesday.

Olumekun stressed the significance of adhering to the deadline, noting that the commission will not accept late applications. So far, 113 media organizations have registered 865 journalists to cover the election.

The commission also clarified that any media outlet that fails to complete the accreditation process before the deadline will be barred from observing both the voting process and the collation of results.

With the portal’s closure imminent, INEC has urged media organizations to act promptly to secure their participation in the election coverage.