2024 Edo Guber Poll: APC Leads PDP, Others With 2 LGAs To Go

With results from only two local government areas of the State pending on Sunday afternoon, Senator Monday Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is maintaining the lead as collation of results in the Edo State governorship election entered its crucial stage.

From the figures so far collated, the APC flag-bearer has a lead of 48,595 votes ahead of his nearest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodahlo with the Labour Party (LP) Standard bearer, Olumide Akpata coming a distant third.

Results from 16 out of the 18 LGAs have been formally announced at the INEC Collation Centre in Benin City. APC has so far secured 244,549 votes and won majority votes in 10 LGAs, while the PDP has garnered 195,954 votes, winning in six LGAs. The difference puts APC in the lead, with 48,595 margin. Olumide Akpata of Labour Party is trailing with 13,348 votes.

The remaining two LGAs, yet to be collated and announced, will be crucial in determining the final outcome of the governorship election. INEC has announced that the collation process will resume at 5pm later on Sunday, after which the final results and the winner of the election will be formally declared by the Returning Officer.

The election, which took place on Saturday, September 21, has been characterised by mixed reactions and a slew of allegations with both PDP and Labour Party candidates raising concerns about the transparency of the process, with accusations of electoral malpractices.

The PDP has particularly accused the APC of orchestrating vote manipulation, claiming that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) manufactured votes for the APC in some key areas with the help security agents.

Governor of Adamawa and chairman of the PDP campaign council for Edo, Ahmadu Fintiri, alleged that PDP agents were denied access to INEC offices during collation, while APC agents were allowed unrestricted entry.

This is as he also highlighted incidents of violence at collation centers, particularly in Etsako West, where a shooting was reported.

Below are some of the results so far announced by the Electoral umpire, INEC:

Etsako West LGA

APC: 32,107

LP: 2,116

PDP: 17,483

Etsako Central LGA

APC: 11,906

LP: 381

PDP: 8,455

Etsako East LGA

APC: 20,167

LP: 604

PDP: 9,683

Owan West LGA

APC: 19,380

LP: 446

PDP: 14,189

Orhionmwon LG

APC: 16,059

LP: 556

PDP: 14,614

Ovia South-West LG

APC:10,150

LP: 849

PDP: 10,260

Esan North-East LG

APC: 10,648

LP: 194

PDP: 12,522

Esan Central LG

APC: 10,990

LP: 418

PDP: 8,618

Akoko Edo LG

APC: 34,847

LP: 2,239

PDP: 15,865

Egor LG

APC: 16,760

LP: 1,966

PDP: 14,658

Esan South-East LG

APC: 8,398

LP: 98

PDP: 14,199

Esan West LG

APC: 12,952

LP: 342

PDP: 11,004

Ovia North-East LG

APC: 13,225

LP: 1,675

PDP: 15,311

Igueben LG

APC: 5,907

LP: 494

PDP: 8,470