Politics

#EdoDecides: Live updates/results here

Published

8 years ago

September 28, 2016

Ripples Nigeria

#EdoDecides

Ovian South West LG

APC 12,820

PDP 8,810

3:18pm… INEC resumes announcement of results

2:00pm… INEC takes another one hour break to continue with the announcements of the results by 3:00pm.

12:57pm…. PDP rejects results

The Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the results of the exersice, even while it is being announced.

State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih made the decision known at a media briefing in Benin, the state capital.

He said, “We are rejecting these results as they were being announced by INEC and we are coming out early enough to make this known”.

The governorship candidate of the party, Osagie Ize-Iyamu said he aligned with the position of the party, claiming, that “The results are not a true reflection of what happened in the field. The INEC only played a script written by the Government of Edo”.

Results of the governorship election as announced by INEC (Live)

Akoko-Edo LG

APC 24,545

PDP 13,027________________________________________

Ikpoba-Okha LG

APC 33,461

PDP 26,096________________________________________

Etsako West LG

APC 29, 199

PDP 10,843_________________________________________

Etsako East LG

APC 18,078

PDP 12,552__________________________________________

Esan Central LG

APC 9,781

PDP 10,180__________________________________________

Etsako Central LG

APC 10, 373

PDP 8,827___________________________________________

Owan East LG

APC 21,233

PDP 12, 889__________________________________________

Ovia North East LG

APC 17,561

PDP 13,141

12:03pm… Announcement of results resumes

10: 15am… Protest outside INEC office, gunshots, teargas fired

Protesters are gathering outside the INEC headquarters along Auchi Road, Ikpoba Hill, Benin, the state capital, where results of the election are being collated. Security agencies, made up of soldiers, mobile policemen and civil defence operatives trying to bring the situation under control.

Some of the protesters carrying placards say they are not satisfied with results from four of the local government areas already announced which they say have been manipulated.

Gunshots have been heard, and police are firing teargas canisters to disperse the crowd.

11:00am…APC takes the lead

INEC has suspended the announcement of result, and gone on break for one hour, to resume by 12noon.

Of the results from nine local government areas announced so far, APC is in the lead with 142, 424 votes, against PDP’s 136, 799 votes.

——————————————————————————————-

Esan West LG

APC 13, 114

PDP 16, 311

Orhionmwon LG

APC 15, 262

PDP 16, 446

______________________________________________________

10:27am… Protest erupts as PDP returning officer protests the results from Oredo local government area. Says he has the mandate of his party to call for the cancellation of the results from that local government, as it has been allegedly changed.

Oredo LG

APC 37, 612

PDP 30, 492___________________________________________

Esan North East LG

APC 9,130

PDP 16, 220___________________________________________

Igueben LG

APC: 7,802

PDP: 7,560_____________________________________________

Esan South East LG

APC 9,554

PDP 11,466____________________________________________

Uhunmwonde LG

APC 10, 911

PDP 8,667_____________________________________________

Owan West LG

APC 12,862

PDP 10,123__________________________________________

Egor LG

APC: 26,177

PDP: 19,514

________________________________________________

2:35am… INEC to begin collation of results by Thursday

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Edo, Mr. Sam Olumekun, says the collation of results is to commence on Thursday.

He state this after a closed door meeting with a national commissioner, and two other RECs, but gave no reason for the decision.

9:43pm… INEC bars print, online media from collation centre

INEC has barred some class of journalists from its collation centre.

Print and online journalists were told by stern looking mobile policemen at the entrance to the hall of the state headquarters of the commission serving as collation centre that only reporters and cameramen from television stations were allowed in.

Security operatives however told the journalists that they have the option of sitting outside under a canopy within the premises of the INEC office

The barring of the journalists is inspite of the fact that they were accredited by the electoral body to monitor the election across the state

6:50pm… INEC to commence collation of results by 9pm

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will start official collation and announcement of the results by 9pm.

Already, party agents, INEC officials, security agents, media men, and other stakeholders are converging at the INEC office close to the popular Ring road, Benin city.

Meanwhile, Edo State PDP Publicity Secretary, Chris Osa Nehikhare, has alleged that Governor Adams Oshiomhole and INEC are planning to rig the results at the Collation Centre.

He said in a statement, that “Edo PDP wishes to let Edo People know that there has been enough time for the INEC to start announcing the ward results. Voting stopped at 2pm and votes were counted immediately at the unit levels. From results made available to us we are in a very comfortable lead.

“We are however shocked that till now no ward result has been declared. We are aware that APC and INEC plan to change the result at the collation centre and we wish to warn that any change to the result we are already aware of will be met with stiff resistance”, he stated.
INEC recorded 1,925,105 registered voters, with 2,627 polling units in 18 Local Government Areas.

4:45pm… Again, Oyegun loses in his unit, as PDP takes early lead

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun lost in his polling unit 2, Ward 2, in Oredo LGA. His party scored 69, while the PDP scored 78.

Reports indicate that Oyegun’s party has during several elections usually lost in his polling unit.

Meanwhile, early reports trickling in put the PDP in an early lead.

3:12pm… Who’s sharing money, give me mine –Oyegun

The Polling Unit 001, Staff Training School, Benin, where the APC national Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun voted recorded a large turnout of voters.

However, there were allegations that APC members where seen compiling a list and giving out money. According to a beneficiary, each voter was handed N10, 000. The event almost caused a fight among agents and voters alike.

When questioned on the development, Oyegun said, “When I look at a place like this I don’t know how you can give someone money. How do you know somebody has voted, given how secret it truly is, nobody will know how you’ve thumb printed.

He added, “Please is there somebody sharing money let me go to him and take my own.”

He however, described the turnout of people for the election as the best he has ever seen. according to him, it presumes that something good is about to happen, and that people are keen to express their democratic options.

3:10pm… Civil defence boss thumbs up his men

The Deputy Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Mr. HK Madu , has said the Edo State governorship election should be used as a model in terms of security arrangement for future elections in the country.

Madu, who said he was in the state to coordinate his 15,000 men who are on ground in the state for the election, said so far, the security arrangement put in place by the security agencies has been a model in the country.

According to Madu, so far, no untoward incidence has happened since the election began in the morning, adding that the strength of the security deployment in the state is beter appreciated in the interior villages and towns outside the state capital.

2:50pm… Tension as agents arrest policewoman for collecting bribe

APC has alleged that its agent caught a female police officer who was collecting money from a chieftain of the PDP at unit 28, ward 7 in Ikpoba Okhai LGA. The officer was arrested by APC supporters and handed over to the police who locked her up at Ugbekun police station.

The situation caused some tension in the polling unit before normalcy returned.

2:47pm… A video footage emerged on twitter allegedly of APC agents bribing voters with N2000 each to vote the party’s candidate.

2:10pm… Shooting in Jettu

Voting in Polling Unit, Jettu, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo North, witnessed some violence, which disrupted the voting process.

Trouble started in the polling unit at about 2pm after some youths reportedly stormed the place creating confusion. The situation forced many of the voters scampering for safety.

Already police is said to be working to restore order in the unit.

1:40pm… Voters at Iyoba College, Ward 5, Unit 26, 0redo Local Government area, Benin City

1:05pm… Voting at Oredo Ward 1 is being delayed by faulty card readers

1:02pm… Large turnout in Benin

The election witnessed a large turnout of voters in Benin City.

The various polling units visited by Ripples Nigeria show high voter enthusiasm with the election.

In Ward 2, units 17 to 30, Oredo Local Government Area, voters, who came out in large numbers were eager to exercise their civic right.

A corps member, attached to unit 26, told Ripples Nigeria that the election has been peaceful with voters turning out in large numbers.

10: 55… Oshiomhole: So far so good

Governor Adams Oshiomhole said he is satisfied with the conduct of the process so far, and hopes it will all end well.

The governor who spoke after casting his vote in Auchi, noted that if everything goes the way it wen in his polling unit, then it will all end well.

He however refused to comment on the general exercise, noting that he is yet to receive reports from other parts of the state.

He however stated that he had received reports from a traditional ruler, that thugs had carted away the card reader from his domain leaving the people unable to cast their votes.

He commended the people for the level of turnout, adding that they want to celebrate democracy.

He denied reports that two APC governors, Akinwunmi Ambode, And Nasir el Rufai of Lagos and Kaduna states respectively were in Edo state.

According to him, it was a lie spread by the opposition, even as he challenged journalists present to call the numbers of the two governors, to ascertain their whereabouts.

10:52… Ambode’s, El-Rufai’s presence in Benin worrisome –Ize-Iyamu

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in today’s governorship election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has described as worrisome, the presence of two governors of the All Progressives Congress, Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State in Benin.

According to Ize-Iyamu, who stated this while speaking with journalists after casting his vote in his Village, Iguedodo in Orhiowon Local Government, area of the state, said the two were obviously in the state for sinister motives.

He however commended the process, saying it has so far being peaceful with large turnout of voters.

He also expressed optimism that if things continue the way they are going, then the election would be a commendable one.

The former Secretary to the Edo State Government, SSG, however said he knows the APC would become jittery when counting of votes commences and unleash their thugs.

According to him, it was shocking that the APC chairman in the state and other person could be in possession of 3000 voters cards. He wondered they intended to do with them.

The APC chairman, was arrested last night by the military. It is however not clear if he has been released.

10:45am… PDP agent, INEC officials clash over accreditation

A war of words ensued between the polling agent of the PDP, at the polling unit of the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu at Wardd 5, unit 26 of Iguododo in Orhiowon Local Government of the state, over accreditation procedure.

The argument ensued after INEC officials at the unit insisted that whoever is not accredited through card readers will not be allowed to vote.

The PDP agent had insisted that voters who failed accreditation through cards readers should be allowed to do manual accreditation.

The hot argument delayed the process until journalists present intervened by asking the officials if they have the power to change the rules which they answered in the negative.

Accreditation and voting has however commenced in a peaceful manner.

10:34am… Philip Shuaibu, running mate of APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki, arrives at Ward 11, unit 5, Etsako West LGA, for voting and accreditation.

He spoke to newsmen, and stated that he is satisfied so far with the conduct of the election, and impressed by the performance of the card readers.

10:31am… Dr. Idia Ize-Iyamu, wife of the PDP candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, wife of PDP candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, arrives at Ward 1 in Oredo LGA for accreditation and voting, her spouse is yet to appear.

9:58am… The APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki, and his wife, Betsy arrived at their polling unit in Ward 4, Emokpae Primary School Oredo Local Government Area for accreditation and voting. Both of them in matching brown outfits joined the queue of voters and waited their turn.

8: 45am —Voters at Uhi Ward 2, unit 07 in Uhunmwode local government area, say they have been asked to stay outside the polling unit while INEC officials are sorting out the materials. Voting is yet to commence there.

8:40am

8:30am

A polling unit in Ikpoba-Okha LGA.

8: 12am– Voting kicks off in earnest amid tight security

Voters in Edo start have trooped to the polling booths to cast their votes for a new governor to take over from the incumbent, Adams Oshimhole.

Reports coming in from different parts of the state say there is good turn out of voters, amid tight security in most places, especially urban areas like Benin City, the state capital and Auchi.

By the new method adopted by the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) voters are to do their accreditation and vote immediately.

This is unlike in previous exercise, where voters are accredited within a time frame, for voter to cast their votes later in the day.

We are ready, INEC declares.

As the governorship election in Edo State kicks off today, September28, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it is ready for the election and that every logistics has been put in place by it.

In a chat with the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Sam Olumekun, in Benin City, the Edo State INEC boss said both sensitive and non sensitive materials have been moved to the 18 local government areas of the state.

The REC also stated that baring any unforseen circumstances, the commission is well prepared for a hitch free poll in the state.

In a related development, the security agencies have put in place what they say is water tight security measures in the state ahead of the election.

As at last count, statistics showed that the Nigerian Police Force has deployed about 25, 000 of its men and officers to the state, with the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, relocating to the state to personally take charge of security for the election.

Aside the police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has deployed 15,000 of its men to the state. The bulk of the civil defence officers were drawn from neighboring states, while the Department of State Services, DSS, has an unspecified number of its operatives in the state.

The security arrangement for the governorship election also has men of the Nigerian Army stationed in strategic places in the Benin City, the state capital and other parts of the state.

Feelers gotten from the streets of Benin, showed that residents of the state are ready for the election and are determined to troop to the poll to exercise their civic rights.

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews (Reporting from Edo)….

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