- Per checks, over 93 per cent of results from the Edo gubernatorial election have now been uploaded online
- INEC's result viewing portal showed this progress, suggesting that a vast majority of the results could now be assessed by voters
- Anticipation continues to build as people wait to see who will emerge the winner of the September 21 election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made significant progress in transmitting results from the Edo State governorship election, with 90.33% of the polling units' results already uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
As of Saturday evening, September 21, checks by TheRadar revealed that results from 4,239 out of the 4,519 polling units across the state have been uploaded.
This update comes as election observers, political analysts, and citizens eagerly await the final outcomes of the tightly contested election.
The Edo governorship election, which is the first election to be held since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, will be a litmus test for Nigeria's democratic growth under the current federal government. It has expectedly attracted significant attention, with the three major political parties—the All Progressives Congress (APC), the People's Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party (LP)—vying for the top position via Monday Okpebholo, Asue Ighodalo and Olumide Akpata, respectively.
About IReV
INEC’s IReV portal, which allows for real-time viewing of election results, is part of its broader effort to enhance transparency in the electoral process. The portal enables Nigerians to monitor the results, thereby fostering confidence in the election's credibility. However, some technical glitches have been reported in past elections, leading to concerns about the system's reliability. So far, however, the Edo election appears to be proceeding smoothly in terms of result transmission.
The political landscape in Edo
The PDP has traditionally held sway in Edo and is the party of the incumbent, Godwin Obaseki, who is rounding off his second term in office. The APC has garnered a strong following in recent years and is the party of the government at the centre.
However, with the LP’s growing popularity among (young) Nigerian voters, especially since Peter Obi’s famous presidential run and the emergence of Alex Otti in Abia State, experts believe the outcome is far from predictable.
Early reports suggest that the election has been largely peaceful, although there have been minor skirmishes reported in a few polling units.
EdoDecides 2024: Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata loses his polling unit to PDP’s Asue Ighodalo
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party flagbearer in the Edo State governorship election, lost his polling unit to Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the results from Polling Unit 11, Ward 06, Oredo Local Government Area, Benin City, Ighodalo secured 41 votes to defeat Akpata, the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who garnered 32 votes. The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, came in third with 19 votes.
