Governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo State Olumide Akpata has been defeated in his polling unit 11, ward 06 in Oredo Local Government Area.
Akpata scored 32 votes, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Asue Ighodalo scored 41 votes while Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got 19 votes.
After casting his vote on Saturday, Akpata said his own experience was “seamless”.
He further said, “The process went well, I want to hope that this is the experience of every Edo voter, but I’m not going to make that assumption standing here, I want to wait for feedback from my agents across the state, its 192 wards, 4,500 polling units.
“We are hopeful that this will be the experience of every Edo voter and I am calling on INEC that the playing field should remain level, nobody should be given any undue advantage, all of our agents should be allowed into collation centres, the agent of all parties, nobody should be hindered, prevented from going into the collation centre, so that we can all witness the process, and be able to confirm that it was done in the manner as provided by law, the electoral act and the constitution.
“So, INEC has no excuse, this is an off-cycle, and they have the luxury to deploy their resources. All eyes are on INEC, the entire country is on INEC, and we are hoping that they will do a good job. It’s left to see if the heavy deployment of security personnel to Edo is for the people or a certain individual.”
Ighodalo, after casting his ballot, expressed confidence he would win by landslide.
He also expressed disappointment with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the delay in commencing voting in some areas.
Ighodalo said, “We will win this election by landslide and move our state forward by God’s grace. If there is anybody at home, please come out and cast your vote. We are not comfortable with the little shenanigans that is going on particularly from the APC guys. This is a single state election and INEC has all the time to prepare, so there was no need for the delay.
“There are rumours that they are trying to undermine the election process. Many of them have been caught with ballot papers, PVCs.
“The worst is that they go round trying to buy votes. They buy votes for N15,000 to N20,000. They are trying everything to subvert the process.”
Former APC national chairman and ex-governor of Edo State Adams Oshiomhole has since debunked the allegations.
