Commuters and motorists attempting to navigate around the movement restrictions for Saturday’s Edo governorship election found themselves stranded at the Jattu junction on the Benin-Auchi-Okene highway in Etsako West Local Government Area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many had expected the enforcement to begin at 8 a.m., only to discover that security forces had already blocked key routes before 7 a.m.

A NAN correspondent covering the election noted that, in addition to the police, personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Services, and other paramilitary agencies were involved in the movement restriction efforts.

NAN observed a significant queue of heavy-duty trucks, smaller vehicles, motorcycles, and commuters at the junction.

Several drivers shared with NAN that they were traveling from Abuja to Delta but were denied passage by security personnel.

Some commuters, caught off guard by the restrictions, explained that they had only stepped out to buy breakfast supplies before heading to the polling stations.

Mr. Musa Adamu, a truck driver, expressed frustration at being stopped despite clarifying they were merely passing through Edo. “I’m coming from Abuja to Delta and thought we could get through Edo before 8 a.m. I was surprised to find the military personnel blocking the road and refusing us access,” he said.

Another motorist, Hakeem Saliu, mentioned he had left Benin early with plans to cross the junction but was halted before 7 a.m. “The security personnel told us to stay put until the election is over, and that feels unfair,” Saliu added.