Obaseki wins, dedicates victory to Edo electorate as defeat of god fathers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday concluded the Sept. 19, Edo governorship polls with the declaration of incumbent Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo and Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as winner.

Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta, and the Returning Officer for the election, announced the result after its collation in Benin.

He said that Obaseki polled a total of 307,955 votes to defeat the closest rival and the All Progressives Congress (APC), candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who scored 223,619.

A total of 14 candidates participated in the contest which had the total number of accredited voters for the election at 557,443 and total valid votes votes as 537,407.

The rejected votes were 12,835 and the total number of votes cast was 550,242.

Prof. Rim-Rukeh announced that Obaseki, having scored the highest number of votes was therefore declared the winner of the election.

Obaseki won in 13 of the 18 Local Governments Areas of the state, namely, Orhionmwon, Igueben, Owan West, Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Esan West, Esan Central, Esan South East, Esan North East, Uhumwode, Egor, Ovia North East and Ovia South West.

At the collation centre the Collation Officer for Etsako Central, however, disclosed that an INEC official was shot and another INEC staff member was injured on the face.

He noted that both of them were battling with their lives in an undisclosed hospital.

Our correspondent reports that there were records of invalid votes in some polling units across the 18 local government areas.

It was reported that the returning officer released the scores for the candidates prior to the declaration of PDP as the winner.

The scores are as follows:

A A 107
ADC 1370
ADP 2374
APC 223, 619
APGA 177
APN 57
ADP 78
LP 267
NNPP 258
NRM 573
PDP 307, 955
SDP 323
YPP 132
ZLP 117

Meanwhile, Obaseki in a brief acceptance speech dedicated the victory to the collective resolve of the Edo electorate to destroy God fatherism in the state.