The 2024 Edo State gubernatorial election has entered its final stages, with both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) locked in a fiercely contested race.
Approximately 95% of the 4,519 polling units have been uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV). While the IReV is publicly accessible and could give a fair indication as to the voting outcome, the constitutionally mandated manual collation of results is currently ongoing and must be completed first before announcements of winner.
The State Collation Center in Benin City – Edo State’s capital will be the final collation point and where the State Returning Officer will announce the official result of Saturday’s poll.
While the PDP appears to be leading, the APC remains in close pursuit, with videos emerging where supporters of both parties claim victory and are enthralled in orgies of unofficial celebration.
APC Claim Lead
The APC says it is in a comfortable lead based on results collected by its agents across the state. However, the party’s spokesman, Felix Morka, said his party will not preempt INEC’s official declaration, urging “the Edo state electorate and the general public to disregard these bogus and highly speculative reports” circulating on social media.
He reaffirmed that the collation process is still ongoing at the ward level and that INEC is the sole authority responsible for announcing results.
PDP Demands Respect for the People’s Will
Meanwhile, the PDP has directed its supporters to vigilantly monitor the collation process from the LGA’s centers to the state final collation center, calling on the APC to respect the people’s will. PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, released a statement to “counsel the APC to respect the will of the people of Edo State as expressed at the polling units.”
He urged INEC to ensure that all results are transparently uploaded and accurately declared. The PDP also demanded the prosecution of an INEC officer, Obozuwa Josephine, accusing her of inflating votes in favor of the APC.
Election Day Turnout and Heavy-Weight Victories
Despite the rainy weather, voter turnout was impressive, with many defying the downpour to cast their ballots. However, the exact voter turnout is yet to be officially published by INEC.
Key political figures saw mixed results, with PDP’s Asue Ighodalo winning his polling unit, while Labour Party (LP) candidate Olumide Akpata lost his. Akpata lost his polling unit to his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Asue Ighodalo.
According to results declared at his Polling Unit 11, Ward 6, Oredo Local Government Area, Ighodalo polled 41 votes while Akpata trailed with 32 votes.
Governor Godwin Obaseki and PDP deputy governorship candidate Osarodion Ogie also secured victories in their respective polling units. In Edo North, APC heavyweight Senator Adams Oshiomhole demonstrated his influence, securing significant support in Etsako.
Arrests of Vote Buyers and Thugs
The election was not without controversy, as the Nigeria Police arrested several individuals for political thuggery, vote buying, and illegal possession of firearms.
In a coordinated raid, police apprehended suspects in various parts of the state, including members of the PDP found with pre-filled ballot papers and voter inducement lists. A fake journalist was also among those arrested.
Tense Atmosphere Remain
Tensions escalated early Sunday morning when Governor Godwin Obaseki stormed the INEC collation center amid claims that APC – the ruling party at the federal level was attempting to use the military to thwart election result.
Gov. Obaseki, however his immunity, was escorted out of INEC’s collation center by the police. APC protesters, led by Dennis Idahosa, had demanded his removal, arguing that as a non-candidate, the governor had no legitimate reason to be present.
The altercation drew national attention, adding to the already heightened political atmosphere.
As the collation of results nears completion, both the APC and PDP have continued to assert confidence in their respective leads.
However, the final outcome rests with INEC, which is expected to announce the official results in the coming hours. The election, while largely peaceful though marred by allegations of fraud and instances of vote buying, leaving observers to wonder when Nigeria will finally be a truly democratic nation.
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