APC And LP Kick As Edo Holds LG Election

Edo State Government conducted Local Government Council elections in 18 Local Government Areas of the state on Saturday.

Gatekeepers News reports that while the election was generally peaceful, the opposition parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP), raised concerns about incomplete election materials in several places.

The election was, however, devoid of any violence as voters, in most parts of the state, conducted peacefully while the exercise lasted.

In most parts of the state, such as Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, election materials arrived as early as 8am, and voting proceeded smoothly.

However, the APC and LP complained about the undersupply of electoral materials, with the LP calling for the cancellation of the exercise at premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

LP chairmanship candidate of Oredo local government, Daniel-Ero Onaghise called for the cancellation of the exercise.

Governor Godwin Obaseki, who voted in his polling unit at Emokpae Primary School, praised the exercise and expressed confidence in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winning the elections. He commended the high voter turnout despite the rain and lauded the state electoral commission (EDSIEC) for a well-organized process.

“The turnout was very impressive in spite of the rain. There was quite considerable turnout and it showed the interest in the local government election. This means that the political parties did well by going round sensitizing and mobilizing the electorates and the people.

“The process has been smooth and peaceful as a lot of people are still hanging around to see the end and conclusion of voting. I am very impressed by what has happened as the organisation by EDSIEC has gone fairly well. You have so many people still here at almost the closing of the poll, which shows that we have a fairly decent turnout.

“I have been getting updates from across the State and this seems to be the trend all over. I have not received any report of violence yet and pray everything goes smoothly.”

On complains that materials did not arrive on time in some areas, the governor said “I believe that voting time will be extended and allow more people to vote, I am sure that EDSIEC will extend the time for voting I’m sure voting time will be extended instead of allowing voting to end at 2.30pm. I’m sure they will extend and allow citizens and voters to exercise their franchise.”

LP Chairmanship candidate speaking while LP supporters protested, said “I want to express my displeasure on this exercise. We had series of stakeholders’ meetings, at a point, they said BIVAs and card readers will be used but towards the election they jettisoned that, they said there would be restriction of movements but two days to the election the governor announced that there will not be restriction of movement.

“So, at that point, we started suspecting but EDSIEC assured that everything will be fine. Today, it took more than six hours for materials to arrive, EDSIEC staff were not seen. I am the LP candidate for Oredo but as I speak to you, I can’t vote because there are no materials people have been waiting since 7 o clock.

“I discredit the process and I call for the cancellation of the exercise, it is so painful that I have not been able to vote for myself.” He demanded.

On his part, the APC State Chairman, Col David Imuse (RTd), speaking on phone from Ekpoma, said “This election is a scam, it is a charade, they brought insufficient ballot papers but no single result sheets.

“How can you conduct an election when there is no result sheet? It is happening right in the entire Edo Central senatorial district I am calling from Ekpoma, the same thing is happening in Esan North East, Esan West everywhere here, no result sheets and I don’t see how an election can take place without result sheets.” He lamented.