Wrap-up: An overview of Edo governorship election

By Chimezie Godfrey

The Edo governorship election on Saturday held across the 18 local government areas of the state with commendation for the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) for a peaceful conduct of the election from observers.

Correspondents of NAN, who monitored the exercise in the three senatorial districts of the state, report that voters and election monitoring groups expressed satisfaction over the process in spite of the pre election apprehension of violence.

NAN observed high turnout of voters across the polling units, with substantial compliance with the COVID-19 safety protocol while INEC staff, who arrived early in most of the polling units with voting materials, provided hand washing buckets, sanitiser and thermometers.

The polling units witnessed visible presence of security personnel in all the polling centres visited.
In Edo North, Mr John Atsegameh, an election observer, with Centre for Democracy and Development CDD, described the election as peaceful devoid of any violence.

“From the reports am getting from other places the election is free and devoid of violence.
“The electorate conducted themselves properly; there was a strict adherance to COVID-19 safety protocols.

“So far, no form of violence, party agents conducted themselves and corporated with INEC personnel’” he said.
Similarly, the Minister of State Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba and Sen. Francis Alimikhena (APC-Edo-North) expressed satisfaction on the conduct of the Edo governorship election.

Agba stated this shortly after casting his vote at Uzani, Ward 3, Unit 8 in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo.
The minister commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the process, saying that he was impressed with the exercise.

“I can only say here and if it is the reflection in other places then it is good” the minister said.
Sen. Alemikhena, APC Edo-North Senatorial District, said that he was impressed with the large turnout of voters.

“The turnout here today is totally unprecedented,” he said.
Alemikhena, however, expressed confidence that with the turnout and peaceful conduct of the poll, his party would win.

“This area is APC and we expect 100 per cent, I am very confident thst if everything goes well like this our party, APC is sure of victory,” he said.

In Edo Central district, aside the report of slight delay in one polling unit arising from failed card reader, which was promptly replaced, the electorate and respondents applauded the conduct of the governorship election.

There was large turnout of voters across all polling units in Esan West Local Government area of the state.
Most of the voters arrived in the various polling units before officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Some of the polling units visited by our correspondent included those in Ward 6 (Ogbomoide Primary School) with polling units 6, 7 & 8, and polling units 3, 4 & 5 (Central Primary School) all in Iruekpen, Esan West.

Others included polling Unit 2 in Ward 5 (Uhunmudumu Primary School) in Ekpoma which has six voting points.
Accreditation of voters and voting commenced on scheduled at these polling units.

While electoral materials and officials arrived on time at the polling units, security personnel were visible in all the polling units visited.

Also at the polling units were Policemen as well as personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The situation was not different in Edo South as the only two cases of police authority dismissed the two alleged reported cases of gunshots at Oza in Orhionmwon Local Government area and Ologbo, a border town between Edo and Delta.

There was calm situation at Ugboko ward 5 unit 26, in Orhionmwon.
and ward 5 Unit 19 in Oredo Local Government Area, where Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Godwin Obaseki, both governorship candidates of APC and PDP, respectively, voted.

Some of the electorate who spoke with NAN in separate interviews commended INEC for adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols during the electoral process.