The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended voting time in the ongoing Edo governorship election.
INEC made the announcement in a statement on Saturday issued by Mohammed Haruna, its national commissioner and member of the information and voter education committee.
The electoral umpire said the voting process would be extended at polling units where voting did not start early.
The extension was to allow voting until all eligible voters who arrived at polling units by 2:30 pm cast their ballots.
Voting exercise started late in many places including where the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) voted.
INEC arrived at Ighodalo’s Polling Unit almost midday, leaving hundreds of voters waiting.
He eventually queued and voted at his unit at Ward 1 unit 3, Idinro, Okaegben, Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The INEC said, “Our monitoring indicates early commencement of polls in many Polling Units, but there are also reports of late commencement in some locations.
“To ensure that no voter is disenfranchised, the Commission wishes to reiterate that, in line with our Regulations and Guidelines, voting will be extended wherever it commenced late and will continue until the last voter on the queue who arrived at the Polling Unit by 2:30 pm has voted.”