Despite early morning downpours of rains, residents of Edo state headed to the Polling units early on Saturday to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice in the off-cycle governorship elections, which witnessed an average turnout of voters across the state. When the polls started the weather was fine, but this changed later
Despite early morning downpours of rains, residents of Edo state headed to the Polling units early on Saturday to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice in the off-cycle governorship elections, which witnessed an average turnout of voters across the state. When the polls started the weather was fine, but this changed later due to the heavy downpour of rain across Benin, the State capital.
The election will produce the next governor among the trio of Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Monday Okpebholo of All Progressives Congress, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party. The voting process was impressive participation as attested to by some of the leading candidates in the election. However, some residents berated the electoral commission for deploying some of the materials to some local polling units late.
Despite anticipation that the election could be violent, the process was rather peaceful which could have been aided by the heavy presence of security agencies at every critical point of Benin City and other parts of the state to nib any form of violence in the bud. A few arrests were made of troublesome residents who tried to foment trouble.
Akpata Gives Kudos to Voters, Says INEC Doesn’t Have Excuses
The candidate of the Labour Party, Olumide Akpata has commended Edo residents who came out to vote stating that the process was seamless. He also charged the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a free and fair electoral process as the commission has been afforded the needed resources to conduct a successful election.
Speaking after casting his vote in his polling Unit, Oredor Ward 6, Ministry of Education in Edo State, Mr Akpata urged the electoral commission to create a level playing ground for the best candidate to win the election.
“The process was seamless, I was accredited and I did my thumbprint and I cast my ballot. I am hopeful it is like this for every Edo voter, as I don’t want to make any claim without verification.
For INEC, this is an election that is happening only in Edo state, INEC has no excuse not to conduct a free and fair election. I think this is an opportunity for them to show the world that they do this job and they can do it well. So I’m hopeful this going to be a process that is well run”, he said.
Ighodalo Criticises Late Deployment of Materials.
On the other hand, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the Edo governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, criticised the late deployment of officials from the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, and election materials to his polling unit.
He asked the commission to extend the voting time for people to actively participate in the process. “As you can see, INEC Officials and materials just arrived and they are well over two hours late.
“Well, we are still well around the allocated time for voting; let us see what we can achieve between now and the close of voting hours,’’ he said.
According to him, it will only be fair if the voting hours are extended by the number of hours lost.
INEC is Getting it Right–Senator Okpebholo
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Monday Okpebholo has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying they are getting the process right.
Senator Okpebholo said this after casting his votes at his polling unit Unit 03, Ward 1, Uwessan, Esan Central LGA in Edo, adding that his opposition would not get a vote from his unit. He further downplayed the security threats as null and void. “What I’m seeing here is like a testimony that INEC is getting it right. The PDP or whatever will not get one vote here because this is my home and my people love me,” he said.
“I know that everything they are saying about security – this, that – is ‘hyping’. I mean nothing is happening. You can see! Nobody is fighting. No knockout, no stick of matches. So is just for people to scare people away from voting.
