The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission says it has recruited and trained 10,000 ad hoc staff ahead of Saturday's local government election.

Chairman of the commission, Jonathan Aifuobhokhan, said the personnel had been equipped with the competence and professionalism needed for the successful conduct of the poll, adding that all preparations had been completed to ensure a free, fair, transparent, peaceful and inclusive election across the state.

Aifuobhokhan explained that both sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials had been produced, inspected, sorted, packaged and allocated to local government offices for distribution, with arrangements also made to deliver materials to riverine and hard-to-reach communities to ensure eligible voters were not excluded because of geographical challenges.

The EDSIEC chairman said voting will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with election results to be transmitted manually.