The candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo, and All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, have both secured victories at their respective polling units (PUs) in the Edo State governorship election.
According to The Cable newspaper, Mr Ighodalo gathered 200 votes at polling unit 11, Ward 1, in Ewohimi, Esan South-East LGA, defeating Mr Okpebholo, who polled 45 votes.
In addition, Mr Ighodalo triumphed over the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Olumide Akpata, at his polling unit. Mr Ighodalo secured 41 votes, surpassing the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who received 32 votes at polling unit 11, Ward 6, Oredo LGA, in Benin.
Additionally, Mr Ighodalo also raised concerns over the conduct of the election, accusing police operatives of voter intimidation.
He alleged that one of his supporters was arrested by the police while attempting to cast a vote. Furthermore, he criticised the late arrival of Independent INEC) officials at his polling unit and called for an extension of the voting period.
The Cable quoted him saying, “One of our supporters was arrested by men in mufti carrying guns. Nobody should carry a gun to a polling unit; that’s against the law and regulation. But you just see people misbehaving, oppressing, and trying to intimidate our voters. We won’t be intimidated and oppressed.
“How come it is only PDP supporters that are being arrested? Every day, you see APC supporters doing the worst things imaginable; nobody arrests them, and nobody even investigates them. The authorities should create a free and fair level playing field. It is getting too much, particularly from the police force or people who claim to be policemen. If policemen want to be politicians, they should retire.
“INEC has delayed for over two hours; the only fair thing will be for closure to be extended by maybe 2 or 3 hours. So that everybody can get to vote.”
Meanwhile, Mr Okpebholo emerged victorious in his polling unit, Unit 001 at Ward 2, Udomi Primary School, located in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area.
Mr Okpebholo polled 102 votes to defeat PDP and LP who each received just one vote. Out of the 107 total votes cast, two were declared invalid.
