Despite the heavy downpour, voters in Edo Central showed up in large numbers to participate in the governorship election in the state.

Reports indicate that voting commenced at 8:40 am at the Eguare Primary School, Ujiogba in Esan West Local Government Area (LGA), which hosts three polling units.

Even in the rain, voters lined up for accreditation and voting, which were conducted simultaneously.

At polling unit II, ward 2, some voters sought shelter under umbrellas, while others remained in the queue in the rain.

One voter, Samuel Samson, told NAN that the voting process began at 8:30 a.m.

“The electoral officials got here overnight, but the polling booth opened exactly at 8:30 a.m.,” he said.

In Igueben, Igueben LGA, canopies were set up in some of the polling units to protect voters from the rain.

Due to the rainfall, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Asue Ighodalo, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the closing time by two to three hours.