The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Monday Okpebholo has taken the lead in the Edo State governorship election.
Okpebholo currently leads his closest contender, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), by over 48,000 votes.
From the 16 local government area results declared so far at the INEC Collation Centre in Benin City on Sunday, Okpebholo, who represents Edo Central in the Senate, has secured victory in 10 areas, amassing 244,549 votes compared to Ighodalo’s 195,954.
The PDP candidate has won six local government councils. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) trails far behind in third place with 13,346 votes.
Following the announcement of the results from the 16 local government areas, the INEC Collation Centre took a break. The Returning Officer, Faruk Adamu Kuta, who also serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, called for a recess at around 2:19 pm.
He explained that the break was to allow for the arrival of results from two remaining local government areas, with the centre expected to resume by 5 pm, at which time the winner of the governorship election is likely to be announced.
The collation centre initially opened shortly before noon in Benin City, hours after the election concluded in the South-South state.
‘Worst Elections in History’
Already, the PDP is protesting the results and had earlier held a press conference where it claimed the election was marked with irregularities. The briefing was organised by the party’s campaign organisation for the poll and led by Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State.
At the event, Ighodalo alleged that the exercise was marred with inconsistencies and fears the election may go down as the “worst” in the country’s history.
“From our perspective, the way these elections are going, they’re probably going to be the worst elections in the history of this country,” the PDP flagbearer said.
Members of the party are also demonstrating in Benin City, saying the results being collated are not in tandem with the wishes of the people.
APC Flays Obaseki
But the APC earlier called for caution, asking Nigerians to wait for official results from INEC.
“Consistent with the Electoral Act, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the sole authorised body empowered to collate results at the ward, local government, and state levels, and to officially declare the result of the election,” the party said late Saturday.
“We urge members of the public to disregard this attempted misrepresentation and await INEC’s final verdict on the election.”
It also accused incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki of attempting to subvert the electoral process after the latter visited INEC’s collation centre.