By Seyi Odewale
This election, with its potential to shape the future of Edo State, is of paramount importance.
The stage is set for an intense battle as each party rallies its supporters, finalising last-minute strategies, and aiming to secure the loyalty of undecided voters.
This election promises to be a fierce contest, as all three parties have formidable candidates with solid grassroots support.
The APC is fielding Senator Monday Okpebholo as its governorship candidate, and Dennis Idahosa is his running mate. Okpebholo, who is from the central senatorial district, is the incumbent senator representing the district in the Senate, while Idahosa represents Ovia federal constituency of the southern district in the House of Representatives.
Astute board room guru and lawyer Dr. Asue Ighodalo is flying the PDP ticket alongside former Secretary to the State Government and political icon Mr. Osarodion Ogie as his deputy. While Ighodalo is from the central senatorial district, Ogie is from the southern district. They have the full backing of the incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Olumide Akpata, a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, is riding on the platform of the LP, which jolted the state’s political landscape during the 2023 presidential elections. The party won the senatorial seat in the southern senatorial district where Akpata is from. His deputy, Prince Kadiri Asamah (SAN), who is from the northern senatorial district, is also a lawyer.
The stakes have never been higher, and Edo State awaits with bated breath the outcome of this political showdown, which promises to be a turning point in the state’s history.
*Yiaga identifies eight violent-prone LGAs, seeks prosecution of vote buyers, sellers
A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Yiaga Africa, has identified eight local government areas in Edo State as hotspots for violence in the September 21 governorship election.
The election observers, therefore, urged security agencies to ensure adequate deployment of personnel.
The group listed the Councils as Ikpoba/Okha, Oredo, Egor, Ovia South-West, Ovia North-East, Esan South-East, Etsako-West and Etsako-East LGAs.
Addressing a pre-election press conference in Benin City on the Edo 2024 governorship election, Yiga Africa noted that vote-buying must be addressed by ensuring vote buyers and sellers are not only arrested but prosecuted as a deterrent to others.
However, the Chairman of the 2024 Edo Election Mission for Yiaga Africa, Dr Aisha Abdulllahi, flanked by the Executive Director of Yiaga, Samson Itodo, and other election stakeholders, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) preparedness for the election.
In a prepared text titled “A barometer for measuring commitment to electoral integrity,” by Abdullahi, Yiaga urged all parties and candidates to honour their commitments to the peace accord.
It stated, “Yiaga Africa notes the tense and volatile political climate for the election. The campaign period was a signpost with strong-arm tactics and violence. The activities of cult groups and political thugs intensified amidst the employ of violence and intimidation to suppress specific units and LGAs.
“Additionally, armed groups and political thugs may disrupt INEC’s deployment of elections. Yiaga Africa has identified eight LGAs as hotspots for violence. They include, Ikpoba Okha, Oredo, Egor, Ovia South West, Ovia North East, Esan South East, Etsako West and Etsako East.
“The volatile security environment in these LGAs necessitates a strategic and neutral deployment of security forces.”
On voting buying, the group noted, “Yiaga Africa observed multiple instances of voter inducement during the Pre-election campaign period in Edo State. Political parties and politicians continue distributing cash, gifts, and food to entice voters.
“These practices of voter inducement undermine the integrity of the electoral process, as they can distort the electorate’s free will and compromise the Democratic principle of free and fair elections. Yiaga Africa is concerned that this practice may extend to Election Day, turning the polling units to the epicentre of vote buying.
Yiaga further said, “While the high rate of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) collection indicates a willingness among the electorate to participate, several factors may contributes to continued low turnout.
“Concerns over political violence, economic hardship, and a deep-seated lack of confidence in the electoral process could deter voters from voting.”
