As the Edo governorship election kicks off, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of the state, has committed to refusing any bribe.

In an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, she asserted that her strong reputation would discourage anyone from attempting to bribe her.

Prof Gumus announced that voter accreditation will start at 8 a.m., with voting set to end at 2 p.m., although all accredited voters will still be permitted to cast their ballots.

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She stated that she is dedicated to ensuring this election is the most effectively managed by INEC to date.

Prof Gumus said, “I am in charge of Edo. I want to do the right thing, even though I will not be everywhere. We will conduct this election in a free, fair and credible manner. I cannot take bribes no matter how much. I don’t have to take billions to do what is right.

“Nowhere, nobody will try. Nobody will try me. You know in any office you are in this country they know everything about you. And when they know they will not come near. If I see it, I will not allow it.

“You won’t believe that since we started this process every day, I am on the platform with the EOCs. In five two minutes or five-minute intervals I will enter the platform to know what is happening. If there is anything I would correct. That is what I have been doing.”

Security personnel established roadblocks across key areas of Benin City early this morning, as part of heightened efforts to ensure a peaceful Edo governorship election.

The roadblocks were in place by 6:00 a.m., ahead of the polls, which are set to open at 8:00 a.m.

According to report, security officers were seen stopping and inspecting vehicles, while questioning occupants to maintain law and order during the election process.

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Despite the heightened security, some commercial drivers attempted to evade the checkpoints to continue operations undisturbed.

A heavy military presence was observed at strategic locations around the city, particularly at Ring Road, Sapele Road, Forestry Junction, and other key points, where an armored tank was also stationed at the city center.

Other heavily secured areas included Okida Road, Ekewaun Road, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office at Ikpoba Hill.

Additional checkpoints were reported around Agbado Market, as well as the Akpakpava and Sapele Road sections of Ring Road.

While vehicular movement was sparse due to the roadblocks, a few pedestrians, presumably voters, were seen making their way to polling stations.

With the curtain drawing on campaigns for the Edo State’s gubernatorial election slated for Saturday, September 21, Peter Obi has sounded the gong for the electorate to speak with their votes.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s 2023 election took to his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Friday to urge voters to make the right choice.

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Putting the Labour Party forward as the best option, Obi maintained that elections “are opportunities to present authentic leadership and drive meaningful development.”

Obi wrote, “As campaign for the Edo governorship election on 21st September 2024 comes to an end today, troubling comments continue to emerge.

“One party admits to having packaged fake leaders in the past — who knows what they offer now? Perhaps expired ones — while another insists it is a do-or-die affair.

“At Labour Party, we offer genuine leadership built on competence, capacity and compassion. For us, elections are not war; they are opportunities to present authentic leadership and drive meaningful development.”

“A new Nigeria is POssible! -PO”