Voting commences in Esan West LG, as septuagenarian commends peaceful conduct

As of 8:30 am, voting had commenced at Eguare Primary School, Ward 2, Ujogba, in Esan West Local Government Area.

Newsmen reports that voters were present at Units 2, 3, and 11.

Personnel from the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were stationed at the voting centers.

Speaking after casting his ballot, a septuagenarian, Pa Robert Aiguekhagbon, commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of the voting exercise.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sustain the peaceful process and appealed to those who had not yet voted to continue conducting themselves peacefully.

Police arrest armed political thugs

The police said they have apprehended political thugs and seized firearms during overnight operations in Edo State where the governorship election will be holding today, Saturday.

The police also pledged to tackle illegal weapons holders and disruptors of the electoral process in the state.

Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, made this known in a statement on Friday night, displaying some of the recovered firearms.

He gave the names of the arrested alleged political thugs as 43-year-old Edwin Obanor, and Audu Tajudeen, a 41-year-old PDP member from Ugbogbo quarters, Igara Akoko, Edo

“The Nigeria Police Force has made a significant breakthrough in its efforts to curb electoral violence in Edo State with the arrest of two political thugs, namely: Edwin Obanor, 43-year-old and Audu Tajudeen, a 41-year-old PDP member from Ugbogbo quarters, Igara Akoko, Edo,” the statement said.

DAILY POST reports that residents of Edo State will be electing a new governor today, Saturday, 21 September, 2024.

The new governor will take over from Governor Godwin Obaseki who will step aside after the expiration of his 8 years administration.

Edo Decides: PDP, APC, Labour Party, others battle for the ‘Heartbeat of The Nation’

Residents of Edo State will head to the polls today for the off-cycle elections to elect their next governor.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, hopes to reclaim power in the state following Governor Obaseki’s decamp to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, back in 2019.

Edo was an APC stronghold before the crisis that emanated in the party forced Obaseki to dump the national ruling party to the main opposition.

In Edo, come Saturday, the electorate will vote for a new state leader as Governor Obaseki exits office after his two constitutional terms.

The leading contenders for Saturday’s election include Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata.

DAILY POST reports that seventeen candidates are vying for the governorship position, with sixteen men and one woman in the running.

They include…

Action Alliance, AA, – Tom Iseghohi

New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP – Azena Azemhe Friday

All Progressives Grand Alliance – Osifo Isiah

All Progressives Congress – Senator Monday Okpebholo

People’s Democratic Party – Asue Ighodalo

Labour Party – Olumide Akpata

All People Movement – Ugiagbe Sylvester

All Peoples Party – Areleogbe Osalumese

Action Democratic Party – Kingson Akhime Afere

African Action Congress – Udoh David

Zenith Labour Party – Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena

Boot Party – Osirame Edeipo

Accord Party – Iyere Kennedy.

African Democratic Congress – Osarenren Derek Izedonmwen

Peoples Redemption Party -Patience Key Ndidi

Young Progressive Party – Paul Okungbowa Ovbokhan

Social Democratic Party – Aner Abdullahi Aliu

However, DAILY POST reported that ahead of the election, about nine of the above-mentioned political parties have unanimously endorsed and collapsed their structure into the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

Meanwhile, DAILY POST will provide situation reports from these states as events unfold.