“INEC Shuts Down Media Accreditation for Edo Governorship Election”

Babatunji Wusu –

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the media accreditation portal for the upcoming Edo State governorship election, scheduled for September 21, 2024, will close at midnight tonight. No extensions will be granted.

Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, made this announcement in a statement released on Wednesday. Olumekun emphasized the importance of meeting the deadline, as late applications will not be accepted. To date, 113 media organizations have registered 865 journalists for the election.

INEC has also clarified that any media outlet failing to complete the accreditation process by the deadline will be excluded from observing both the voting process and the collation of results. With the portal’s closure approaching, INEC urges media organizations to act swiftly to ensure their participation.

The statement reads: “As part of our preparations for the Edo State Governorship Election, we remind all media organizations that the accreditation portal will close tomorrow, Thursday, September 5, 2024, at midnight. To date, 113 media organizations have submitted details for 865 journalists. We stress that the deadline is final; there will be no extensions. Media organizations that do not complete the accreditation process will not be permitted to observe the voting or results collation at the various centers.”