Breaking: Live Updates And Real-Time Results From Edo’s 2024 Governorship Election

Breaking: Live Updates And Real-Time Results From Edo’s 2024 Governorship Election

Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Edo State, described his voting experience as smooth and efficient. Akpata, who cast his vote at Oredo Ward 6, Unit 11, expressed hope that all voters across the state would have a similar experience.

“For me, the process was seamless,” Akpata said, adding that he remains cautious about making conclusions until feedback from other areas is received. While optimistic about the process, he emphasized the importance of a level playing field, ensuring that the best candidate emerges victorious.

Akpata, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), is up against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Asue Ighodalo, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Monday Okpebholo, and several others in the race to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki.

**Okpebholo Confident of Victory in His Local Government Area**

Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC governorship candidate, expressed confidence that his rivals, Akpata and Ighodalo, would not secure any votes in his local government area, Esan Central. After casting his ballot, Okpebholo praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its efficient conduct of the election, noting that the process appeared to be running smoothly.

**Ighodalo Decries Late Arrival of Election Materials**

PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo raised concerns over the late arrival of INEC officials and materials in Ewohimi. Ighodalo arrived at his polling unit at 10:30 a.m., only to find that election materials had just arrived—over two hours late. He called for an extension of voting hours to make up for the lost time and highlighted security concerns in other areas of the state.

**Large Voter Turnout Across Edo State**

The Edo gubernatorial election witnessed a high turnout of voters across the state. Reports from various polling units indicated that residents were eager to exercise their civic duty early in the day. Civil society organizations such as YIAGA Africa and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) commended the peaceful atmosphere and the substantial voter participation.

**Security Measures and Arrest of Political Thugs**

Security forces were active in ensuring a peaceful election, with reports confirming the arrest of two political thugs in possession of firearms. Police pledged to clamp down on any attempts to disrupt the election, with personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) stationed at several polling units.

**Key Candidates and Political Landscape**

The 2024 Edo governorship election is a critical moment for the state’s political future. Major candidates include LP’s Olumide Akpata, APC’s Senator Monday Okpebholo, and PDP’s Asue Ighodalo. The election has also seen alliances form, with some smaller political parties endorsing the APC candidate ahead of the vote.

Governor Godwin Obaseki, who defected to the PDP in 2019 after a falling-out with the APC, is set to step down after serving two terms. The contest between the three major parties will determine the future leadership of Edo, often referred to as the “Heartbeat of the Nation.”

As the day progresses, more updates will be provided as the electoral process unfolds across the state.