The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has taken the lead in the by-elections to fill vacant positions in the National Assembly.

Results from the polling units showed the APC was in clear lead in Ovia Federal Constituency and in Edo Central Senatorial District.

Signs of defeat for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ovia Federal constituency showed when the party’s candidate, Johnny Aikpitanyi, stormed Benin City to complain about alleged intimidation of voters.

Aikpitanyi said there were over 150 thugs and vigilantes at his Oghede polling unit in Ovia North East Local Government Area.

“How can you see more than 150 vigilantes holding guns in a polling unit? It doesn’t make sense. In a polling unit vigilantes holding guns? It doesn’t make sense. What is vigilante doing in a poling unit? More than 150 of them.

“If you know your party is good, if you know your party has done well, then why are you afraid? Why the vigilantes? Why the thugs everywhere? Allow people to go vote. If you feel your party, the APC, has done well or maybe you’ve done well for the people, then allow them to go vote so that their votes will count.

“So, this election violence here and there, it needs to stop and it’s going to stop now. That’s all I have to say for now. So, I’m precisely from Oghede”, Aikpitanyi said.

Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ovia Federal Constituency, Barr. Omosede Igbinedion, won her polling unit with 450 votes, while the PDP and ADC got one vote each.

Her father, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, defied heavy downpour of rain to vote in the election

The nonagenarian was present at his Unit 7 polling unit in Okada.

Edo Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, voted at Unit Three, Old Education Board, Iguobazuwa West Ward, Ovia South West Local Government Area.

He described the process as seamless, peaceful and encouraging.

According to him: “So far, everything is going well. We are expecting free, fair and credible elections. Ovia people will be happy with the outcome. The turnout is impressive. More voters should come out and vote and shun violence.

“I just voted and I am going home while I wait for the result.”

Governor Monday Okpebholo, who expressed frustration at the slow functioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), voted at Ward 2, Unit 1, Udomi Primary School in Esan Central Local Government Area.

Okpebholo said the BVAS machines deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) caused unnecessary delays.

According to him: “Well, I just voted. You can see the frustration. The BVAS is just too slow. It takes too long before you can get accredited. I think INEC needs to look into this. So far, so good, the feelers I’m getting are good,”

Coordinator, Office of the First Lady in Edo State, Edesili Okpebholo-Anani, voted at the same polling unit.

She urged voters to participate fully and defend their votes.

Candidate of the PDP for the Edo Central Senatorial District by-election, Prince Joe Okojie, who urged his supporters to remain strong, expressed reservations about glitches in the BVAS performance

He assured electorates that they would exercise their franchise.

Okojie urged the people to go out to mobilise their friends and families to the polling units.

There were low voters turnout in many of the polling unit even though leaders of political parties stormed residences to woo voters to polling units.

Election materials arrived early and voting commenced at about 8am.

Residents of Siluko Ward, including the riverside community of Gbelebu, mobilized voters to go out to vote due to low turnout and voters apathy in some of the polling units in Ovia South West local government area.

The exercise was peaceful but a handful of voters were seen at polling units in Ward 4.

At Polling Unit 17, Gbelebu Secondary School, the All Progressives Congress (APC) party agents supervisor, Charles Geregha, expressed confidence that more voters would turnout before voting ends. (The Nation)