In a significant turn of events, Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, has secured a decisive victory in his polling unit during the recent elections. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) garnered 127 votes, far surpassing the All Progressives Congress (APC), which received only 35 votes. The Labour Party (LP), represented by Olumide Akpata, managed to collect 11 votes at polling unit PU19 in Ward 04, Oredo LGA.

After casting his vote, Obaseki praised the electoral process at his polling unit, commending the voters for their resilience in braving heavy rain to participate. He expressed his satisfaction with the turnout, stating, “You can see despite the inclement weather, people have turned out in large numbers. The ballot box in my polling unit is already full, which clearly indicates that the citizens are engaged and mobilized for this election.”

Obaseki emphasized the importance of a peaceful collation process, stating his hope for smooth results without disruptions. He also noted the strong military presence in the state, reassuring citizens that federal security agencies have taken charge, highlighting, “I am not the Chief Security Officer of the state; the Inspector General of Police is.”

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In contrast, Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party faced a setback in his own polling unit. He received only 32 votes compared to the PDP’s 41, while APC candidate Senator Monday Okpebholo garnered 19 votes at polling unit PU11, Ward 06, Oredo LGA.

Akpata expressed optimism about the electoral process, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure consistency across all polling units. “I want to hope that this is the experience of every Edo voter, but I’m waiting for feedback from my agents across the state’s 192 wards and 4,500 polling units,” he stated.

He called for a fair playing field, insisting that all party agents should have access to the collation centers to guarantee transparency and adherence to electoral laws. “INEC has no excuse; this is an off-cycle election, and they have the resources to ensure a credible process,” he added.

As the election unfolds, all eyes are on INEC, with the nation closely monitoring their efforts to uphold democracy in Edo State.