The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun collation of the gubernatorial election results in Edo State.
This was revealed by the National Commissioner & Member Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, during a press conference yesterday.
The returning officer is Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna.
INEC also said it had activated the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal to upload the polling unit results in earnest. The same results have also been collated from all the 192 Wards.
The election, which was held on Saturday has Asue Ighodalo, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as its candidate; Monday Okpebholo, of the All Progressives Congress, (APC); Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), and other 14 candidates.
As of press time, the candidate of the APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was maintaining lead in the results declared so far and closely followed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s Asue Ighodalo.
Out of the 16 local government areas declared, APC is leading in 10, while PDP is leading in 6 local government areas.
However, Election Observers have reportedly raised concerns about INEC’s transparency during the election. The Observers include: Yiaga Africa, Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, Kimpact Development Initiative, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, ElectHER and TAF Africa.
The Election Observers urged INEC to invoke its powers under Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 to review any declarations and returns where results were not declared voluntarily or violated provisions of the electoral act and INEC regulations, and guidelines.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have berated the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC)’s performance in the just concluded Edo state governorship election.
The citizens, while expressing their displeasure on X, allegedly slammed the electoral body for compromising and favouring the APC.
