Early results from Saturday’s governorship election in some polling units across the 18 local government areas of Edo State showed that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, were in a tight race.

Though the final results were yet to be declared at press time on Saturday, both won their respective strongholds.

Our correspondents who monitored the election said there were reports of violence, vote buying, ballot box snatching and malfunctioning of card readers in some local government areas.

The election, according to our reporters, had massive turnout of voters in Oredo, Egor, Akoko Edo, Esan Central, Esan North West, Ikpoba Okha, Esako East and Esako West local government areas of the state.

Obaseki won his polling unit in Oredo Ward 4 with 184 votes, while his main challenger, Ize-Iyamu, scored 62 votes.

At his polling unit, Orhionwom Ward 5, unit 26, Ize-Iyamu polled 292, while Obaseki got 21 votes.

The deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu of the PDP won his ward 11, Unit 3 Etsako West Local Government with 789, APC polled 164 votes.

Results from some polling units in Etsako East Local Government showed that the APC polled 215, PDP 103 at ward: 001 – Agenebode, PU: 009 (Egbadu 2 and at Eramhe Primary School, Okpella III. Ward 7, PU: 3a, APC got 126, PDP: 126.

At Owan East, ward 2 unit 2 Ownu Primary School Ovbiomu II, PDP- 142, APC – 126; PU 018 , Goretti College Ikpoba Okha LG, APC – 49,PDP – 128; Igueben LG ward: 01 (Ekekhe/Idumuogo/Egbiki), PU: Ekekhe (003), APC-69, PDP- 97 and Eguare Primary School, Ewu 2, Ward 08, PU 09, Esan Central LGA, PDP – 269,APC – 48.

At Utantan Primary School, Ward 02, PU 03, Igueben LGA, APC – 110,PDP – 110; ward 04 (Uhe/Idumuogbo/Idumueke), PU 04 (Utantan Primary School, Igueben), Igueben LGA, APC – 240, PDP – 238; ward 04 (Uhe/Idumuogbo/Idumueke), PU 04 (Utantan Primary School, Igueben), Igueben LGA, APC – 240, PDP – 238 and at PU Uromi Unuwazi Primary School II (008), Esan North East LG, APC -44, PDP – 67.

At Ward 1 unit 2 Owan East LGA, PDP- 124, APC- 90; Owan West LGA, Sabongida, Ward 4 PU: 3, APC – 86, PDP-85, ward 1 Unit 7 Public field Gallary Afuze Owan East LGA, APC- 139

PDP- 87 and at PU 002, Ward 01, Esan North-East LGA, APC – 97, PDP – 129.

•Excerpted from a Daily Trust report. PHOTO: PDP’s candidate, Gov. Godwin Obaseki (M) and his wife, Betsy, in the queue to vote during the Edo Governorship Election at the Emokpe Model Primary School, Oredo Ward 4, Polling Unit 19, on the outskirt of Benin City, in Edo State yesterday Photo: NAN

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