By Jethro Ibileke
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has said that the outcome of Saturday’s local government election results affirms the dominance of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a reflection of the wish of the majority of Edo people.
He stated this on Sunday at the Diocese of Benin (Anglican Communion), St. Peter’s Anglican Church, during the 15th memorial thanksgiving service of his father, late Pa Roland Oni Obaseki.
Recall that the State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), had announced the PDP victorious in the 18 local government areas of the state.
Obaseki who was elated over the outcome of the local government election, said Edo people are democratically mature as there was no single violence recorded during the electioneering process.
He said, “We have a situation room where we monitored the election process across the State and want to thank the people. You can see that we are democratically mature in Edo State, in terms of the way the election was conducted.
“I was surprised at the diligence of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC). I went round and saw the number of polling units mounted by EDSIEC and the various electoral officers in the three metropolitan local government areas and it was quite impressive. The turnout was fair as expected and it shows that we can conduct elections without disrupting economic and social activities.
“The people voted and went about their various activities for the weekend. Overall, I believe we have done well. It was a free and fair election. The mass participation and dominance of PDP as a party in the State was clearly exhibited in this election.”
Obaseki further noted, “I have not seen an election that has not been challenged even the one in America was challenged. That is why provisions are made in the law and in the process; for tribunals to review and adjudicate on cases and complaints from contestants.
“Overall, the evidence is overwhelming as PDP campaigned in this LG election as if it was a major national election. I went with them around the 18 local government areas of the State and Councillors campaigned vigorously across various wards across the State but I didn’t see too much of the opposition parties and I am not surprised at the results from the election.”
“There was no violence and this shows that the election result is a reflection of the wish of the Edo people,” he added.
The Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie and the Chairman-elect of Oredo Local Government Council, Dr. Tom Obaseki, were among other top government functionaries present at the church service.
Below is how and when the results were announced:
Council elections: EDSIEC declares PDP winner of all 18 LGAs
By Jethro Ibileke
The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), has released the results of the local government council election conducted on Saturday.
According to the Commission, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emerged victorious in all 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
Seven political parties initially registered to participate in the elections. But, four parties, namely, the Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Accord (A) and African Democratic Congress (ADC), later collapsed their structures for the PDP.
Announcing their withdrawal from the elections at a press conference Friday morning, the parties cited the need to support Governor Obaseki to enable him deliver democratic dividends to the people for stepping aside from the election, as reason for their actions.
The communique was signed by Hon. Osaro Uwaifo – Action Alliance (AA); Hon. Omorogbe Joseph – Accord (A); Hon. Charles Ogieriakhi Allied Peopie’s Movement (APM) and Hon. Frank Osifo Africa Democratic Congress (ADC).
The three parties that eventually participated in the Council elections are the Ruling PDP, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP).
It would be recalled that the APC and the LP protested the conduct of the elections.
The State chairman of the APC, David Imuse, who spoke on phone from Ekpoma, described the elections as scam.
He said: “This election is a scam, it is a charade. They brought insufficient ballot papers but no single result sheet. 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.”
Similarly, the Labour Party staged a massive protest against the elections, with the three candidates of the Benin municipal councils, namely, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo announcing their withdrawal from the elections.
The protesters who stormed the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), comprised of members of the party in Oredo and Ikpoba Okha Local Government Areas.
They called for the cancelation of the elections, which they describing it as scam, even as they announced their decision to pull out of the election, alleging irregularities.
According to them, the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) of not living up to its promise to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
Meanwhile, EDSIEC’s image maker, Albert Eguaoje, has confirmed ttah the Commission will present certificates of return to the victorious candidates this afternoon.
See results:
Ovia South West
APC: 5361
LP: 3216
PDP: 10,721
Total Registered: 89,897
Accredited: 21,442
Invalid: 429
Uhunmwode Local Government
Adodo O. Kenneth of PDP Declared
APC: 2317
LP: 1436
PDP: 15,615
Total Registered: 68,474
Accredited: 19,461
Valid; 19,431
Invalid: 27
Owan West Local Government
Ahonsi Dickson Idojemu of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 3825
LP: 2365
PDP: 13, 171
Total Registered:
Accredited: 19
Valid:
Invalid: 63
Akoko Edo Local Government
Tajudeen Alade Suleiman of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 5369
LP: 2083
PDP: 21,417
Total Registered: 95,711
Accredited: 28,957
Valid: 28, 957
Invalid: 10
Etsako East Local Government
Ato Benedicta of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 4076
LP: 1711
PDP: 16, 428
Total Registered:
Accredited:
Valid: 22, 269
Invalid:
Etsako Central Local Government
Obomigie Imokhae Solomon of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 7, 896
LP: 4, 606
PDP: 30, 594
Etsako West Local Government
Zimbiril Marvelous of PDP is Declared Winner
APC: 29, 445
LP: 23, 832
PDP: 98, 046
Total Registered:
Accredited:
Valid:
Invalid:
Ikpoba-Okha Local Government
DR. ERIC IYOBA OSAYANDE of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 3, 085
LP: 3, 857
PDP: 27, 768
Total Registered: 166,035
Accredited: 38,566
Valid: 37, 795
Invalid: 771
Ovia North East Local Government
Collins Osamede Ogbewe of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 636
LP: 617
PDP: 4, 869
Total Registered: 50, 554
Accredited: 6, 176
Valid: 6, 165
Invalid: 11
Others are:
Igueben Local Government
Asueleme Clement of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 557
LP: 660
PDP: 5, 262
Total Registered: 63, 473
Accredited: 6, 551
Valid: 6, 540
Invalid: 11
Esan Central Local Government
Iyoha Paul of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 23, 885
LP: 14, 331
PDP: 47, 771
Total Registered: 129, 850
Accredited: 97, 299
Valid: 95, 942
Invalid: 1911
Orhionmwon Local Government
Ugiagbe Newman Oghomwen of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 1616
LP: 1737
PDP: 14, 904
Total Registered:
Accredited:
Valid: 18, 317
Invalid: 21
Esan West Local Government
Aigbogun O. Collins of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 1, 665
LP: 2, 183
PDP: 11, 963
Total Registered: 83, 811
Accredited: 15, 875
Valid: 15, 866
Invalid: 9
Esan South East Local Government
Imadegbeho Luis of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 1344
LP: 791
PDP: 16072
Total Registered:
Accredited:
Valid: 15, 866
Invalid:
Esan North East Local Government
Inegbe Paul of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 5550
LP: 3298
PDP: 20, 702
Total Registered: 101,006
Accredited: 29,680
Valid:
Invalid: 16
Owan East Local Government
Prince Aminu Kadiri of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 12, 203
LP: 7695
PDP: 35, 380
Total Registered:
Accredited:
Valid:
Invalid:
Egor Local Government
Hon. Eghe Ogbemudia of PDP Declared Winner
APC: 8, 308
LP: 10, 188
PDP: 70, 293
Total Registered: 347, 076
Accredited: 92, 554
Valid: 91, 047
Invalid: 1506
Oredo Local Government
Dr. Obaseki Tom Osazee of PDP Declared Winner