Today, 2,249,780 voters in Edo State who have collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) will visit polling stations to determine the next governor out of 17 contenders. This follows the registration of 2,590,603 voters by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The key figures in the race include Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olumide Akpata of Labour Party (LP), and Monday Okpebholo of All Progressives Congress (APC).
As voters prepare for the election, controversy swirls around the leading candidates. On Friday, Akpata dispelled rumors that he had withdrawn from the race in favor of the PDP. Addressing journalists, Akpata criticized the falsehood as a desperate attempt to mislead voters, stating, “I am still firmly in the race.” He added that the rumor demonstrated the panic of his political opponents.
Similarly, the APC was quick to debunk claims that a magistrate court ruling had disqualified their candidate, Okpebholo.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described the reports as fabricated and a deliberate ploy to subvert the democratic process. He called on law enforcement agencies to investigate and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Edo South, which boasts the highest number of registered voters at 1,526,717 (59% of the electorate), is widely regarded as the key battleground. Other regions include Edo North with 620,412 voters (24%) and Edo Central with 443,474 (17%).
Within Edo South, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area has the largest voter base with 400,495 registered voters, followed by Oredo and Egor.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has established a Situation Room to monitor the election. NUJ President Chris Isiguzo will oversee the activities, ensuring transparency and accurate reporting. The union urged voters to follow updates through their social media channels.
In a final statement on Friday, Labour Party reiterated its commitment to the race, dismissing reports of Akpata’s withdrawal as part of a misinformation campaign aimed at destabilizing his candidacy. The APC also called on Edo voters to reject any attempts to manipulate the election and expressed confidence that Okpebholo would remain their candidate despite the false reports. As tension builds ahead of the polls, all eyes are on Edo State as the electorate prepares to choose its next leader.
