..As Ikimi Igbinedion, others lose Council areas

From Ndubuisi Orji, Benin

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate iin Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki has emerged winner of the governorship election held on Wednesday.

He polled a total of 319, 483 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who garnered 253,173 votes.

Obaseki is the fourth democratically elected governor of the state. He would succeed Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,  whose two term of eight years elapsed on November 11.  Other previously elected governors of the state include Chiefs John Odigie-Oyegun and Lucky Igbinedion. However, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor governed the state for 18 months before the court and order INEC to issue return ticket to the incumbent governor.

In the results declared by the by the Returning Officer, Professor  Kayode Soremekun, the APC  led in  13 out of the 18 local government areas while the led in five council areas.

The local government areas where the APC candidate led include:  Owan West, Egor, Igueben, Uhunmwonde,Ikpoba Okha, Etsako West, Etsako Central,Etsako East, Ovia North East, OwanEast , Akoko Edo and Oredo.  Ize-Iyamu led in Esan North East , Esan West, Orhiomwon, Esan Central and Esan South East.

A breakdown of the result showed that there were a total of 1900223 registered voters, out which only 622039 voters were accredited to vote,representing 32.74 per cent of the registered voters.

The total votes cast was 613244, out of which 582299 votes were valid and 30945 rejected.

However, the PDP agent, Mr Chris Agbomwanegbe refused to sign the result.  He said had earlier protested to Professor Soremekun about the unjustified cancellation of results in some parts of EtsakoCentral and Oredo local government areas, but nothing was done his complaints.  Agbanwanegbe said he cannot be part of absurdity by signing the results.

The former Minister of External Affairsi and PDP chieftain, Chief Tom Ikimi lost his local government, Igueben to the APC.  Other top politicians who lost their local government include former governors of State Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, who lost Oredo and Esan West respectively.

Also, the State deputy governor, Pius Odubu failed to deliver Orhiomwon to the APC.

Other top shots who lost their local government areas are the Esama of Benin Kingdom,  Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the former Chief of Staff to former President Good luck Jonathan,  Chief Mike Oghiadomhe,  PDP chairman, Chief Dan Orbih and APC chairman,  Anslem Ojezua who lost in OviaNorth East, Etsako  central and Esan central respectively .

Before the commencement of announcement of results, deputy governorship candidate of the APC had caused a stir as he stormed the office over alleged issues in nine polling units in three wards in his area Etsako west constuency. There was a mild drama at the security screening point when he insisted the INEC electoral officer would not go in without him. He defied the security cordon led by an ACP. There are issues over those figure.  I need to go in with him to sort things out. I followed him here from Etsako to ensure the correct thing is done.” Not even entreaties from the security agents could sway him. He alleged that results of some units in the ward were cancelled for no reason.

He insisted that he would only let go after briefing the PDP officer.

“Don’t mind them, we have won with a wide margin,” he said as he walked out after a closed door discussion with the INEC official, APC agent 15 minutes later.