Obi wins Edo with wide margin, Obasekis PDP emerges third

The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has emerged victorious in Edo State with a wide margin, with Governor Godwin Obaseki’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) being in distant third position, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) is second.

LP polled 331,163 votes, APC had 144,471 votes, PDP got 89,585 votes, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) polled 2,743 votes.

The declaration was made this evening in Benin by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) State Collation Officer for Edo, for the presidential election, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Prof. Ndaeyo, in company with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Edo state, Mr. Obo Effanga, and other major stakeholders, gave the total registered voters as 2,501,081, with 603,894 as the accredited voters.

The state collation officer also gave the total valid votes as 581,266, with 19,129 as the rejected votes, while 600,395 was the total votes cast.

The vice-chancellor of UNIUYO disclosed that across Edo’s 18 local government areas, there were “few issues” involving violence, which, according to him, affected 32 registration areas, spread across 119 polling units, while 90,774 voters were disenfranchised.

The agents of three of the 18 participating political parties, LP, APC and PDP signed the collated results from 8:12 p.m., before Prof. Ndaeyo left for the National Collation Centre in Abuja, for formal presentation before the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and other critical stakeholders.

LP won the presidential election in Edo State in 12 LGAs of Igueben, Esan Central, Esan North-East, Egor, Esan South-East, Esan West, Uhunmwonde, Orhionmwon, Ovia South-West, Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha and Ovia North-East, in Edo South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts.

APC won in six LGAs of Owan West, Owan East, Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, Etsako West and Etsako East, all in Edo North Senatorial District, where a former National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, hails from.