The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made significant progress in uploading the results of the Edo State Governorship Election held on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
As of 6:40 PM, INEC had uploaded result sheets from 3,995 of the 4,519 polling units in the state, representing over 88% of the total results, to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
The election, held to choose a successor to outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki, saw the participation of 17 candidates, with the main contenders being Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP). The election is viewed as a tight three-way race, with each candidate drawing strong backing from key figures and regions in the state.
Edo State, located in South-South Nigeria, has 2,629,025 registered voters, with 2,249,780 (85.57%) holding Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). These voters are tasked with determining Obaseki’s successor as his constitutionally mandated eight-year term ends on November 12, 2024.
The political landscape in Edo is marked by strongholds across various regions. Okpebholo enjoys the support of former governor Adams Oshiomhole and holds influence in Edo North, where the APC has a solid base. Akpata, backed by Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, commands a significant following in Edo South.
Meanwhile, Ighodalo, endorsed by Obaseki, has a presence in Edo Central.
Edo is one of eight states in Nigeria where governorship elections are held off-season, alongside Anambra, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Osun, and Ondo, due to previous legal rulings and court judgements.
