Edo Guber: Obaseki Floors Ize-Iyamu
*Obaseki Hail PMB For Defending Democracy, As APC Kicks Say Election Skewed
The Independent National Electoral Commission, in Benin City, the Edo state, yesterday declared Governor Godwin Obaseki ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, as the winner of the September governorship election defeating the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu with a wild margin.
The declaration was made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) State Returning Officers, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum, Effurun , Delta State.
Pronouncing Obaseki as winner, he said: “I, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, the Returning Officer for the Edo State Governorship Election do here certified the following votes as scored by the 14 parties that contested the election. They are as follows:
AA: 107 votes, ADC: 1,370 votes, ADP: 2,374 votes, APC: 223,619 votes, APGA: 177 votes, APM: -57 votes, APP: – 78 votes, LP: – 267 votes, NNPP: – 258 votes, NRM: -573 votes, PDP: 370,955 votes SDP: -323 votes YPP: -132 votes and ZLP: -117
With the collated and released, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, said: “I hereby affirm Godwin N. Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election having scored a total of 370,955 of the valid votes cast; and having scores 25 percent of the total votes cast and margin of the lead higher gan cancelled votes is hereby declared winner of the election.
His words: “That Godwin N. Obaseki, having satisfied the requirement of the law in meeting the 25 percent of the two-third majority votes of the local government areas of the state and having the margin of lead higher than cancelled votes is Herby declared winner and returned elected
Earlier, the Return Officer announced that there were a total of 557,443 voters; valid votes: 537,407; total votes cast as 550,242 while rejected votes stood at 12,835
From the results, as declared Obaseki of the PDP won in 13 LGAs while Ize-Iyamu wins in 5 LGAs
Besides, Obaseki won in all the seven local government areas of Edo South senatorial districts; two of the six local governments in Edo North; and all the five local government areas of Edo Central, thus giving him a clear victory.
Recalled that Ize-Iyamu in 2016 had suffered a similar defeat when he contested then governor against governor Obaseki under the platform of the PDP while Obaseki was the candidate of the APC.
The victory of Obaseki came to many APC supporters as a rude shock following months of intense campaign by candidates of the APC and PDP across the length and breadth of Edo state.
River state Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party campaign council, Nyesom Wike, in a brief remark at government house in Benin City thank his colleagues governors and described Obaseki as the man whom God used to fight godfatherism, “ Edo people have spoken, he was used to fight for the interest of people”
On his part, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has hailed Edo people and supporters of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their display of immense courage and support in the face of threats, intimidation and brutalisation as he emerged victorious in Saturday’s gubernatorial election in the state.
The governor in his appreciation message in Benin City on Sunday hailed President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders who participated in the conduct of the gubernatorial election for ensuring a free, peaceful and credible poll in the state.
Obaseki said: “The Great People of Edo State have spoken. They have spoken loud and clear. We thank God Almighty and give him all the glory for this victory.
“Thank you, President Muhammadu Buhari, for defending our democracy and allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to perform their constitutional functions without interference.
“INEC and the security services have shown to Nigerians and the world that they are capable of conducting free and credible elections.”
The governor continued: “Words fail me in saluting our teeming supporters who displayed immense courage in the face of threats, intimidation and brutalization. The collective will of Edo people made it possible for this triumph over godfatherism.
“I am eternally grateful to my party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and my brother governors not only for giving me the umbrella during my political storm but for the hard work which has brought me back to office.
“Our success has reinforced my belief that there is nothing we cannot achieve as a people if we pull forces together and collectively call on God for support.”
“I reiterate that working with my Deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, we are committed to Making Edo Great Again. Thank you for your support,” he added.
However, the All Progressives Party (APC) in Edo State has alleged foul play in the September 19th Governorship election, but called on party members to stay calm while party leaders study the result and decide what is next.
In a release by the Chairman of the APC Media Campaign Council, Mr. John Mayaki, the party rejected the result, citing alleged strong arm tactics.
“Our people were arbitrarily arrested, many of the figures were fabricated,” said the terse statement, which the party said was only a preliminary reaction.
It further alleged illicit tampering with results, to shore up PDP numbers and mark down APC’s.
“Areas where we won, they cancelled them. They decreased the votes in areas we had advantage,” the party further claimed. “They rejected our results and jerked up theirs.”
Meanwhile, the party also claimed there was arbitrary arrest of local party members, who could have resisted the outrage, while Governor Godwin Obaseki was busy diverting attention with false alarm.
“Obaseki shouted that he was being rigged out and blamed INEC at the initial stage but that was to divert attention from the evil going on in the field”, the statement said.
The party, however, told its members to stay calm, thanking them for their support, and adding that party leaders were studying the result and would announce their decision and course of action as soon as possible.
Shortly after the announcement, there was jubilation across the state as supporters of the PDP and some Edo resident trooped to the streets over the victory of the governor causing vehicular gridlock along major streets.
A former Governorship aspirant of the PDP, Barrister Ken Imansuagbon and Senator Clifford Ordia, in their separate reactions to the victory of Obaseki however hailed President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders for ensuring that democracy strive in Edo state.
Imansuagbon, who descried the victory as the end of godfather said: I want to thank God for what has happened today in Edo state and also the President for allowing democracy to be deepens. I also thank Edo people for standing on their ground that Edo is not Lagos.
Senator Ordia, on his part who congratulated the governor for the victory thanked the people of Esan senatorial district for standing by governor Obaseki.
“This is a victory well deserve. I thank Edo and Esan people for standing behind Obaseki for this victory. I also want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing democracy to happen and I believe that this will be replicated in other states.
Also, the Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) Edo Governorship Election Observers said the outcome of the Saturday poll reflect the will of Edo People
The group also said the governorship poll was not only generally peaceful but 90% violent free as against the anticipated anxiety and fear over possible break down of law and order
Spoke person for the group, John Alkpokpo Martins Esq in an interim report at the NBA Benin branch conference hall said although there was voter’s apathy but the large percentage of those who turned out were enthusiastic about the electioneering process with a considerable level of interest
The group however scored independent National Electoral Commission low over the late arrival of sensitive materials, Ad-hoc staff to polling units until about 10 -11am
The NBA Observers equally expressed satisfaction over what they termed substantial improvement in the deployment of Card Readers as most of the device functioned in their optimal capacity in most of the polling units
“The only snag we observed is the fact that the policemen were not informed that observers are part of the election process. We recommend that INEC should improve in this area of enlightenment, engagement with security forces”
On the wide speculations of vote buying the group posited ” We only heard about vote buying and distribution of money to induce voters, however we did not see or encounter any of such incident on the day of election.
