The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has arrived in Edo State in a bid to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free gubernatorial election in the state.

General Musa will assess the level of preparedness of troops to support the Nigeria Police in maintaining law and order during the polls.

Upon arrival, he visited the Headquarters 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Benin City, to evaluate the troops’ readiness.

A statement from the Defence Headquarters revealed that General Musa is also scheduled to meet with relevant stakeholders to foster effective collaboration and ensure a rancour-free election.

The Edo State governorship election, slated for September 21, 2024, will have 17 political parties vying for the top seat.

Leading contenders include Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.

To ensure a smooth electoral process, the first batch of 35,000 security personnel, comprising police officers, soldiers, and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), are scheduled to arrive in the state.