Francis Ogbuagu 
…Akpata loses unit
The race for the 2024 Edo State governorship election is obviously between the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Bar Asue Ighodalo and of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Obaseki, Oshiomhole, Okpebholo, Ighodalo, win units, Akpata loses
As at late evening of yesterday, the results coming from the field showed that the PDP and APC are running a tight race, leaving the Labour Party behind.
For instance, in Unit 3, Ward 1, Idinrio Primary School, Okaegben, Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area where the PDP governorship candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo voted, PDP scored 200 votes, while the APC and the Labour Party (LP) scored one vote apiece.
At the Unit 3, Ward 1 Uwesan , Esan Central LGA, the APC polled 102 votes to beat the PDP and LP which polled one vote each
On the other hand, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Olumide Akpata, lost his polling unit, scoring 32 votes, while the PDP had 41 votes and the while APC, garnered 19 votes.
The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki also won his Unit 19, Ward 4 Oredo voting centre. PDP got 127 votes against APC’s 35 votes and LP’s 11 votes.
Also, the APC scored 403 votes to beat PDP and Labour Party which polled one vote each at the Ward 1, Unit 6, Auchi , Etsako West Local Government Area voting center of the former Governor of Edo State and Senator, representing Edo North , Adams Oshiomohle.
Army did good job, I’ll win- Ighodalo
Speaking, the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, expressed displeasure on the late arrival of materials at his polling unit. He also frowned at alleged voting buying by the opposition All Progressive Congress.
Voting ended at Okaegben ward one, unit 3, Ewohimi, the polling unit of the candidate of Ighodalo at about 4.50pm.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the process, which stopped at 4:50 p.m., started late at 10:45 a.m. following late arrival of INEC Officials and election materials.
INEC officials and election materials had arrived at Okaegben ward one, polling 3 at 10:30 a.m. and voting time had to be extended to make up for the delay.
The INEC officials, thereafter, began cancellation of unused ballot papers, while sorting and counting of the ballots commenced in the presence of party agents and voters, who stayed behind to defend their votes.
NAN also reports that the Edo governorship election in Ewohimi recorded large turnout of eligible Voters, particularly among the senior citizens of the community.
He said: “I am not happy with the process that delayed the coming of the materials. This is a single state election. INEC had all the time to prepare.
“We are not comfortable with the little shenanigans that is going on particularly from the APC guys.
“There are rumours that they are trying to undermine the election process. Many of them have been caught with ballot papers, PVCs.
“The worst is that they go round trying to buy votes. They buy votes for N15-20, 000. They are trying everything to subvert the process.
“We will win this election by landslide and move our state forward by God’s grace. If there is anybody at home, please come out and cast your vote.”
Ighodalo, also eulogized the Nigerian Army for professional conduct during the election.
He said: “The Nigerian military has made me proud. They have taken charge and have shown great responsibility. They have shown that they can protect the people and I am extremely proud.
“We are not worried. We have spent 10 months talking to people, telling them what we will do for them if they elect us.
“The people believed us and have accepted us all over the state. I don’t know the magic anybody will perform.
“The kind of numbers I am hearing from EDO North, Edo Central, Edo South, overwhelms me. You know in Nigeria, funny things happen. I don’t know the magic anybody wants to perform.
“I believe INEC will deliver a free and fair election until they prove otherwise. We will win hands down in this election.
“We are not happy about a few ongoing in some places but we will remain confident. One of our supporters was arrested at Uromi by some people with security outfit.
“No one should carry a gun into a polling unit. It’s against the law. It’s against the regulation. You see people behave indiscriminately, oppressing and trying to intimidate our folks. It won’t happen. We can’t be intimidated.
“How come it’s only PDP supporters that have been arrested? Every day, you see APC supporters doing unimaginable things. But nobody arrests them. Nobody investigates them.
“The person arrested was at his polling unit, trying to be accredited. He was queuing up, trying to be accredited. Authorities should create a free and fair playing field. This is getting too much particularly from the Police Force.”
Obaseki: I’m impressed with turnout
On his part, the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki commended the enthusiasm of electorates and Edo voters for coming out enmass to cast their votes despite the heavy rain.
Obaseki, who arrived his polling unit at ward 4, unit 19 at Emokpae Primary School Oredo Local Government Area at 11:50am, was accredited and voted at about 11:57am.
The governor, who commended the electorate and young Edo voters for their determination and interest in the election said. “You can see that despite the weather, the turnout and enthusiasm of the electorate is high. The ballots box in my polling units is full and clearly, it shows people have been interested in this election as they have been adequately mobilized.
“People are very interested in this election because it’s a watershed for us in Edo State. I’m not surprised because a lot of young people are here to come and express themselves and fulfill their civic obligation.
“For now, I’m glad with what I see and the election process in my unit has been smooth and efficient but I just hoped that the collation process will be the same and also peaceful and hope that results counter will not be disrupted.
“I’m glad with the military presence in the state and the federal security have taken over the state. So, I don’t have any say. I believed that the IGP was the Chief Security Officer of the State.”
On some arrest made by the Military, Obaseki commended the military for the arrests, saying the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa is living up to his words.
“The military have done a good job and have done well. The Chief of Defence Staff came to see me and assured us that his men were fully on ground and I’m glad what they are doing but not too sure of what the police are doing at this time.
“As I speak, I hear that there are some people claimed they are policemen at Ogbe polling field, trying to arrest people on election day at their polling units.
“We are glad at the deployment of our agents and our situation room is open and we are receiving reports all over and hope for the best”.
Oshiomhole: It’s laughable to accuse APC of Vote buying
Also, the former Governor of Edo State and Senator representing Edo North, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, debunked the alleged vote buying by the PDP saying: “It is laughable when I heard this kind of allegation.
“You, have you seen anywhere where they are sharing money? People turned out in large number to vote for us because they want good governance.
“During our campaign, people came out to see me not because I wanted to give them something but because of what I have done for them while I was in the office as the governor.
“All structures that I have put in place 8 years ago are still there but the ones put up by the present administration, in one year , they have been washed off.
“So, our people have seen the difference. Some people do tell me that since I left the government, they haven’t seen the real presence of government in our communities,” Oshiomhole said.
