Ighodalo and Okpebholo in Close Contest as INEC Uploads Results

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, and his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Senator Monday Okpebholo, are locked in a tight contest as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continues to upload the results from Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State.

As of this report, INEC had uploaded 97% of the results to its Results Viewing (IReV) portal. Despite early morning rainfall that delayed the arrival of materials at polling units, voter turnout across the state was high.

Preliminary results show Okpebholo leading in Edo North, while Ighodalo leads in Edo South. Edo State, which consists of 18 local government areas, is divided into three senatorial districts: Edo North, Edo South, and Edo Central. Traditionally, Edo North has been an APC stronghold, while the PDP has dominated Edo South and Central. However, in the last senatorial election, the APC secured a win in Edo Central.

Polling Unit Results:

• Both PDP’s Ighodalo and APC’s Okpebholo won their respective polling units, while the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Akpata, lost in his unit.
• At Ewohimi, Esan South-East LGA, Ighodalo polled 200 votes, while Okpebholo garnered 45 votes.
• In Unit 03, Uwessan, Esan Central LGA, where Okpebholo voted, he polled 102 votes, with Ighodalo and Akpata receiving just one vote each.
• Former governor and APC leader Adams Oshiomhole delivered his polling unit, Ward 10, Unit 01, Etsako West LGA, to the APC, securing 403 votes to the PDP’s one.
• Governor Obaseki’s polling unit in Oredo LGA gave PDP 127 votes, while the APC and LP trailed with 35 and 11 votes, respectively.

Analysis of Uploaded Results:

• In Igueben LGA, Ighodalo led with 2,778 votes, while Okpebholo secured 2,189 votes across 43 polling units.
• In Ovia North-East LGA, Okpebholo garnered 1,824 votes, while Ighodalo polled 1,745 votes in three wards.
• In Ikpoba/Okha LGA, Ighodalo led with 3,412 votes to Okpebholo’s 1,232 votes.
• The APC led in Uhunmwode LGA with 2,574 votes, though Ighodalo followed closely with 2,172 votes.
• In Owan West LGA, Okpebholo led with 2,493 votes to Ighodalo’s 1,979.

Election Dynamics:

Despite the largely peaceful conduct of the election, accusations of vote-buying and other irregularities surfaced. The PDP accused the APC of electoral fraud, claiming vote-buying and police harassment of its supporters.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party also alleged that the APC was buying votes, particularly in Edo North. However, APC leader Adams Oshiomhole dismissed these allegations, describing them as baseless.

Security personnel, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), intervened to prevent vote-buying in some areas. Several arrests were made, with the police confirming the detention of individuals involved in vote-buying and electoral violence.

Both PDP’s Ighodalo and APC’s Okpebholo expressed confidence in the election outcome, while the Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata, called for a transparent and fair process.