Edo governorship election: Do more to ensure wider voter participation

Last Saturday, voters in Edo State turned out to vote in the state’s governorship election featuring candidates from various political parties.

It was a contest in which the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki, was not on the ballot, having taken part and won the seat twice. Thus, the election offered an opportunity for new candidates to test their popularity and acceptance before the Edo electorate as the Obaseki era winds down and a new dispensation unfolds in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after the counting and collation of votes, declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election. According to the returning officer, Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta, Okpebholo garnered a total of 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) came third with 22,763 votes. He also won in 11 of the 18 local government areas of the state.

Now that a winner has been declared, we wish to congratulate all the Edo people for their peaceful conduct during the exercise. We also urge both the winner and the losers in the election to see this as a democratic process that must produce only one winner at the end of the day. Those who feel aggrieved should go through legal means to seek redress and not resort to violence.

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Furthermore, we wish to remind all the political actors to refrain from anything that can cause chaos in the state and rein in on their supporters to be calm and peaceful.

We note that the electioneering campaign was characterised by the use of foul language, name calling and threats, which should not be so. Election should be seen as a democratic process in enthroning leaders for the good of the state. Maturity matters in such a situation. It should not be seen as a do-or-die situation. Also, we must refrain from vote-buying which was clearly perpetrated by some political parties.

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) alleged that widespread vote-buying marred the election. Professor Adele Jinadu, Chair of the CDD Election Analysis Centre (EAC), disclosed that both the PDP and the APC engaged in massive vote-buying, offering between N5,000 and N10,000 per vote in various LGAs.

“Incidents of vote buying were particularly recorded in Edo Central, especially in Orhionmwon LGA, Esan Central, and Esan North East. This practice significantly boosted voter turnout as news of financial incentives spread quickly among communities,” Jinadu said.

Needless to say, this is a criminal act, which goes against the provisions of the law. And it is unfortunate that the leading political parties were involved in this unwholesome practice as widely reported. The parties should be called to order and in subsequent elections, drastic steps must be taken to ensure this does not repeat itself. The electorate must also understand that they bear the direct consequences of their actions. Also, the police and other law enforcement agents must ensure the prosecution of those arrested for perpetrating this act.

We note some observable hiccups on the part of the INEC, like late arrival of materials and the final collation of the results. INEC must improve on the lapses recorded in this election and especially since the Ondo governorship election is just some weeks away. INEC officials must bear in their minds that they hold a key role to the success of our democratic process.

We salute the courage and determination of the electorate for a peaceful conduct during the campaigns and the eventual election. The peaceful conduct during the elections is worthy of emulation.

However, it was clear from the turn-out that there was voter apathy, which is not good in any democracy. Out of the 2,629,025 registered voters in the state, 2,249,780 Permanent Voters’ Cards were collected. It is sad that the voter turn-out was just at 22.4 per cent, much lower than the 27 per cent turn-out in the 2020 gubernatorial election. This is not a good sign for our developing democracy. All stakeholders must examine the causes of this low turn-out and address them.

While congratulating Senator Okpebholo of the APC for emerging victorious at the polls, we urge him to see his victory as a challenge to meet the aspirations of the Edo people. He should ensure fair and just governance for the good of the people.