PDP candidate in the Edo state governorship election, Asue Ighodalo faults INEC officials’ late arrival to his polling unit, seeks extension of time
10: 30 am: Voting commences at Asue Ighodaolo’s polling unit
Finally voting commences in Asue Ighodalo polling units Idinrio-Okaigben Skill Acquisition Centre, Ewohinmi Ward 1, unit 3, Asue Ighodalo polling units. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire
INEC officials arrive at Idinrio-Okaigben Skill Acquisition centre, Ewohinmi Ward 1, unit 3, Asue Ighodalo’s polling unit.
INEC officials arrive Asue Ighodalo’s polling unit
INEC officials arrived at 10:30 am at Idinrio-Okaigben Skill Acquisition centre, Ewohinmi Ward 1, unit 3, Asue Ighodalo’s polling unit.
Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata votes
Labour Party candidate Olumide Akpata has voted at his polling unit at Ward 06, Oredo LGA
Voting commenced early with the arrival of materials at Egware Primary School, Ujiogba Ward II units 2, 3 and 11 in Esan West LGA of Edo State, with voters thrilled to exercise their rights.
According to 76-year-old Pa Robert Eguekagbon, who spoke to Vanguard, materials arrived before 8 a.m., and he was pleased with the ease of the process.
In his words: “Materials came early about 8 a.m. I came and was accredited and I have voted. It was good and smooth.”
An INEC official, who refused to mention her name, said the process is seamless as they have no issues with network failures and all machines are working perfectly.
Voters came out early and conducted themselves in orderly manners with the elderly lining up as some searched for their names in the voters register.
Meet Patience Ndidi, only female candidate in Edo election
Patience Ndidi of Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, is the sole female candidate in the Edo governorship election.
Other candidates are:
Uwaifo Osaro — Action Alliance (AA)
Aner Aliu — Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Azena Azemhe Friday — New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
Osifo Isiah — All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
Ugiagbe Sylvester — All People Movement (APM)
Areleogbe Osalumese — All Peoples Party (APP)
Akhime Afere — Action Democratic Party (ADP)
Udoh David — African Action Congress (AAC)
Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena — Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
Osirame Edeipo — Boot Party (BP)
Iyere Kennedy — Accord Party (AP)
Obazele Agbone — African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Key Ndidi — Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
Okungbowa Ovbokhan — Young Progressive Party (YPP)
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The local government areas
Edo has 18 LGAs namely:
– Akoko-Edo
– Egor
– Esan Central
– Esan North-East
– Esan South-East
– Esan West
– Etsako Central
– Etsako East
– Etsako West
– Igueben
– Ikpoba-Okha
– Oredo
– Orhionmwon
– Ovia North-East
– Ovia South-West
– Owan East
– Owan West
– Uhunmwonde
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Voters waiting for INEC officials
Voters waiting for INEC officials at Iyamoh Primary School, Ward 10 PU1, Etsako West, Edo State, where Senator Adams Oshiomhole is expected to cast his vote.
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Police nab two political thugs with guns
The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of two political thugs during an overnight raid across several locations in Edo State.
This was confirmed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
According to Adejobi, the suspects — Edwin Obanor, 43, and Audu Tajudeen, 41 — were apprehended in separate incidents.
The police, acting on a tip-off about plans to incite violence during the election, recovered three cut-to-size locally fabricated pistols from Obanor and one locally made gun from Tajudeen.
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Heavy security presence, major roads blocked
The front of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Akpakpava Road, Benin City. Photos: Akpokona Omafuaire
Akpata addresses journalists
Olumide Akpata, Labour Party governorship candidate, briefing journalists.
Today is Edo governorship election. The people of Edo State will decide who succeeds Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The voters
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, 2.249 million voters collected their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs.
However, there are 2,629,025 registered voters. Edo South has 1,526,699; Edo North, 673,794, and Edo Central, 440,514.
These voters in the Edo election are spread across 18 local government areas, 192 wards and 4,519 polling units.
The candidates
There are 17 men and a woman who want Obaseki’s job. But only one will mount the saddle on November 12, and steer the affairs of the state till 2028.
Three-horse race
Today’s Edo governorship election has panned out as a three-horse race between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s Dr Asue Ighodalo; the All Progressives Congress, APC’s Senator Monday Okpebholo, both from Edo Central; and Labour Party, LP’s Mr. Olumide Akpata, Edo South.
