Dozens of youths in Benin on Saturday abandoned the Edo local government election for a football match, saying they had little interest in an election they believed lacked real political competition.

Journalists observed the youths playing football on the field of Uselu Secondary School, the voting centre for Polling Units 1 to 10 in Ward 8, Egor Local Government Area, while election officials conducted the exercise nearby amid low voter turnout.

The youth mounted goalposts and played football in sets.

One of the players, Samson Osagie, said he was not motivated to participate in the election, describing it as lacking genuine political competition.

“The election is won already because the APC is the only major party participating in the election.

“We do not even know some of the candidates in the election,” he said.

Another youth, Thompson Momoh, attributed his absence from the polling unit to not having obtained his permanent voters card (PVC).

“I just registered for my voter’s card, and it is yet to come out. If it is ready before the 2027 election, I will vote.

“Meanwhile, I joined the football match because there is a restriction order and I can’t go to work today,” he said.

Also speaking, Paul Omoregie said he participated in the football match as part of his regular weekend routine.

“I play football here every Saturday, and today cannot be exceptional,” he said.

The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) is conducting elections into the chairmanship and councillorship positions in the state’s 18 local government areas, with 12 political parties cleared to participate.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) are among the parties that boycotted the election.

(NAN)