It’s election day in Edo

By Paul Dada

It’s election day in Edo! And 2,249,780 among the 4,777,000 people that reside in the state are eligible to decide who gets to be the helmsman for another four years, starting from 12th November of this year when the incumbent governor will bow out of office.

Those eligible to decide the fates of the contenders in the election are those who collected their Permanent Voter Cards among the 2,629,025 registered voters in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission vows it is ready to conduct a free and fair election. The police and other security agencies affirm they would be neutral while guaranteeing adequate security for voters and ballot materials. Ostensibly, some of the candidates are incurable optimists. They are already claiming victory by faith. But the mood of ambivalence pervades the 22nd most populous state in Nigeria.

The candidates

Although 18 political parties are fielding candidates for the election, everyone can tell the men from the boys. The men in the contest are undoubtedly Asue Ighodalo of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Party and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.

Ighodalo’s big strength is that he is the candidate of the ruling PDP and the one anointed by Governor Obaseki. But he has a strong opponent in Okpebholo whose back is had by the stalwarts of the Legacy group who parted ways with Obaseki just as he is being believed to be supported by the so-called federal might.

If the general disenchantment with the PDP and APC who are believed by some to be two sides of a coin, is anything to go by, then Akpata and his Labour Party might just have a chance to clinch power in the state.

Fear of violence 

Not a few persons are apprehensive of possible violence marring the election in some parts of Edo State. This fear could perhaps cause a low voter turnout. The security situation in Edo is not known to have been stable. There have been cases of kidnappings and a rise in cult activities resulting in violent fatalities.

Already, a foremost non- governmental organisation and observer group, Yiaga Africa, has identified eight LGAs as hotspots for violence. At a Press Conference on Thursday, Yiaga Africa  listed the affected LGAs to include  Ikpoba/ Okha, Oredo, Egor, Ovia South West, Ovia North East, Esan East, Etsako West and Etsako East.

The Edo State Government through the  Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare on Friday, reported that some thugs took over INEC offices in Edo State.

Nehikhare said: “We have just been told that thugs have taken over some of the INEC offices across some of the LGAs, especially Oredo, Etsako West, Esan West am some of the very serious LGAs. We don’t know which party they belong to.

“But, just before I stepped into this place, we were told that the soldiers have repelled the thugs at Oredo secretariat and pushed them to the other side of the road.

“We just want the to know that this kind of activity is not acceptable. But, just before I stepped into this place, we were told that soldiers have repelled these thugs from Oredo secretariat and made them go across the road and now there is a border around the collation centre”.

However, the Deputy Inspector- General of Police in charge of Edo election, Frank Mba, assured that there was no cause for alarm.

Apprehension over planned rigging 

Some residents of Benin think that election will be rigged in favour of a particular candidate. However, both INEC and the police have emphasised they would be neutral.

President Bola Tinubu on his part admonished all stakeholders to respect the “rules of the game”.

A statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on all stakeholders in the upcoming Edo State governorship elections to conduct themselves peacefully and sportingly. The election is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.

“The President implores the governorship candidates, political parties, and supporters to respect the democratic process and the people’s will. He believes in the voters’ ability to make informed decisions about their future leaders”.

Voter Inducement 

It is a fact during electioneering campaign, some parties induced people with monetary gifts and materials. At Uselu Market in Egor LGA, some traders were reportedly given monetary gifts by both the PDP and the APC. Other places where people were induced with gifts included the Amiebokhian community of Esan North East LGA and the Ubiaja Community of Esan South LGA.

While one is not sure how exactly things will turn out during the election, what is certain is that a winner will emerge from it.