TheGavel – As Nigeria approaches the 2027 General Elections, the recently concluded 2024 governorship election in Edo State has emerged as a pivotal event for political analysts and observers. This off-cycle election has not only served as a barometer for the political sentiments of the electorate but also highlights the nation’s journey towards a more robust and flawless electoral system.

In the highly anticipated poll, 17 candidates vied for the governorship seat; however, three emerged as the primary contenders. Sen. Monday Okpebholo represented the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asue Ighodalo ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Olumide Akpata contested under the Labour Party banner. Okpebholo is a current senator in the National Assembly, Ighodalo is a lawyer and investment banker, and Akpata is a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Both Okpebholo and Ighodalo hail from Edo Central, whereas Akpata is from the southern region of the state.

The election, held on September 21, was marked by the significant deployment of security personnel, with over 41,000 members of the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) mobilized to maintain law and order. This number does not include personnel from other agencies, including the military, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Nigeria Customs Service, all of whom contributed to a heightened security presence throughout the state.

While some residents expressed concerns that the overwhelming security presence instilled fear, it ultimately ensured a peaceful voting process. Voting proceeded smoothly without any incidents of the typical ballot box snatching, ballot stuffing, or political violence. Mr. Sunday Igeh, an electorate who participated in the election, remarked, “The presence of security made me come out as that showed that any violent activities by desperate politicians could be checked,” highlighting the positive impact of the security measures on voter turnout.

The three leading candidates also expressed their commitment to a peaceful electoral atmosphere. Ultimately, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo of the APC as the winner with a total of 291,667 votes. However, concerns surrounding the collation of results and allegations of vote-buying have emerged, raising questions about the integrity of the election process.

Accredited observers and political analysts, including representatives from the PDP, criticized the transparency of the result collation, particularly the sudden switch of collation centers for key local government areas, including Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, and Egor, without prior notice to the political parties involved. These areas are noted for having the highest voter populations in Edo State. The PDP alleged that when the collation centers were moved to the state INEC office, their party agents were denied access, leading to a lack of transparency in the process.

Surprisingly, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, did not clarify the situation, and INEC has yet to provide an explanation for the denied access to party agents. This situation has resulted in accusations and counter-accusations between the APC and the PDP, with the PDP claiming that their victory was undermined. Rev. Olu Martins, Deputy Director-General of the Asue-Ogie Governorship Campaign Council, stated that the party had been celebrating a victory based on the early release of results. “There was jubilation because by the time the result of the election got to 95 percent, you will know whether you have won or not. But when we got to the collation center, things changed as the police said they were on a mission and that whoever couldn’t stomach it should leave,” he alleged.

Conversely, the APC maintained that the election process was free, fair, and credible. Jarrett Tenebe, the chairman of the APC in Edo State, stated that the results truly reflected the will of the people. He criticized the PDP for alleging foul play, asserting that the people of Edo would reject the maladministration that had plagued the state during the last eight years of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration. Supporting this perspective, Frank Mba, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police overseeing the Edo elections, described the poll as a peaceful and successful exercise, commending the citizens for their exemplary conduct during the electoral process.

“The good people of Edo have conducted themselves commendably throughout the election process. We thank them for trusting and working with us,” Mba said, emphasizing the professionalism and neutrality of the law enforcement agencies involved.

Amid the inter-party disputes, serious allegations surfaced regarding the integrity of the election results. Twenty-five civil society organizations, including Yiaga Africa, which was accredited by INEC to monitor the election, claimed that results from several polling units were manipulated at the collation centers. Yiaga Africa, known for its rigorous election monitoring, utilized the Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology, employing 300 stationary and 25 roving observers to cover a representative sample of polling units across all 18 local government areas of the state. The organization discredited the declared results, citing widespread irregularities, including alterations made by collation officers.

The civil society groups called on INEC to review the results in accordance with the data uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, as stipulated by Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022. Additionally, reports of vote-buying emerged, indicating that both the APC and the PDP attempted to sway voter behavior through financial incentives. Reports indicated that one party was offering N10,000 per vote, while the other reportedly offered N20,000, further eroding the election’s integrity.

Political analysts have emphasized that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must intensify efforts to combat the pervasive corruption of vote-buying, which undermines Nigeria’s democratic foundations. They argue that the EFCC needs to adapt its strategies to address the evolving tactics used by politicians to engage in this electoral malpractice. Simply raiding polling units is no longer effective, as political actors have become increasingly aware of such strategies.

The entire electoral process—from accreditation and voting to the collation of results and declaration of winners—is crucial to ensuring legitimacy. If any stage of this process falters, it compromises the entire electoral system. Consequently, observers have urged INEC to enhance its operations in accordance with the Electoral Act guidelines to regain the trust of Nigerian voters.

Despite the Edo governorship election receiving international attention as an off-cycle poll, it has fallen short of expectations in several areas. Stakeholders are calling on INEC to address the identified gaps and improve its performance in preparation for the upcoming 2027 general elections. (NAN)

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