INEC SUSPENDS FRESH VOTERS' REGISTRATION IN EDO STATE

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) moved to douse rising tension in Edo State ahead of the July 16 gubernatorial election by suspending the scheduled fresh voters' registration in the state.INEC chairman,Prof Attahiru Jega,announced the decision while addressing journalists on the outcome of the meeting between the commission,political parties and other stakeholders on the forth coming elections.

Explaining why INEC took the decision which was welcomed by all the parties,Jega said the commission had become worried over the charged political atmosphere in the state adding that there had also been many allegations and counter-allegations by different political parties and candidates contesting the election.

The ACN is alleging that the controversial decision to begin a fresh voters' registration was reportedly calculated to enable the PDP to recruit fake voters from outside the state to rig the election.The questionable registration exercise led to violence in Benin-City that claimed one life and had several other party supporters sustaining various degrees of physical injuries.