There was jubilation in the Situation Room of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benin as its candidate in the Edo State Governorship Election, Godwin Obaseki, maintains a lead.
This is according to results announced so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
In a video that surfaced online on Sunday, officials in the situation room were joyful.
Some of them were seen shouting “4=4” and “4+4”.
The video also showed the officials, including Obaseki, clapping as results trickle in.
We had reported that Obaseki recorded more votes from the results of the 13 Local Governments declared so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission
With two additional local governments’ results announced by INEC, the PDP still has the highest number of votes.
However, the All Progressives Congress, APC, recorded more votes in the two LGAs.
At Akoko Edo LGA, APC had 22,963 votes while PDP got 20,101. Also, at Etsako East LGA, APC polled 17,011 and PDP 10,668 votes.
Obaseki is leading Ize-Iyamu by a margin of over 76,000 votes.
Although 17 political parties fielded candidates for the election, it is a two-way race between APC and PDP.
Incumbent Governor Obaseki of PDP ran against APC standard-bearer Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Obaseki was elected on APC’s platform in 2016 but defected to the PDP after being denied the ticket owing to intra-party squabbles.
The election held in 18 Local Government Areas, 192 Wards, and 2,627 polling units.
SEE DECLARED RESULTS
1) Igueben LGA
PDP 7,870
APC 5,199
Total 13170
Total votes cast 13,382
Election materials snatched in Ward 8, Unit 2
2) Esan North-East
APC 6,556
PDP 13579
Valid votes 20,369
Total votes cast 20,730
3) Esan Central
APC 6,719
PDP 10,794
4) Ikpoba Okha
APC 18,218
PDP 41,030
5) Uhunmwonde
APC 5,972
PDP 10,022
6) Egor LGA
APC 10,202
PDP 27,621
7) Owan East
APC 19,295
PDP 14,762
8. Owan West
APC 11,193
PDP 11,485
9) Esan South-East
APC 9,237
PDP 10,565
10) Ovia North East
APC 9,907
PDP 16,987
11) Etsako West LGA
APC 26,140
PDP 17,959
12) Oredo LGA
APC 18,365
PDP 43,498
13) Esan West
APC 7,189
PDP 17,434
14) Akoko Edo LGA
APC 22,963
PDP 20,101
15) Etsako East LGA
APC 17,011
PDP 10,668
