State H/A election: Obaseki, APC in battle royale

* As Obedients vow to do it again amidst widespread Voters’ apathy

By Kingsley Abavo, Benin

Finally, the die is cast! Today, Saturday, 18 March, 2023, Nigerians again at the polls to choose their new set of Governors and State lawmakers

In Edo State, it was a battle royale between the ruling Governor Godwin Obaseki’s led People Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as to who holds the Parliament in the next dispensation.

In the run up to the election, Governor Obaseki aware of the importance of having the majority of members in the next Assembly, worked so hard like a candidate.

Unlike his usual self, the Governor leading his team was humble pleading the electorates to massively give PDP candidates their votes to enable sustenance of his developmental programs and policies.

He did all that was available in the books to actualize the set objective of holding the next Assembly.

While the opposition, All Progressives’ Congress (APC) unleashed former Governor of the State, and former National Chairman of the Party; Adams Oshiomole to lead their campaign relying on his popularity and street credibility.

This is as both the APC and Labour Parties raised the alarm about alleged plot of the Governor Obaseki’s administration to disrupt peaceful conduct of the election with hired thugs and hoodlums.

But widespread Voters’ apathy trailed the election across the State from exchange of reports gotten.

This we scooped was occasioned by alleged rigging of the Presidential and National Assembly election on the 25 February, 2023, and the fear of the unknown following the alarm raised by the opposition about the Governor’s plot to unleash armed thugs and hoodlums on voters and the polling booths.

998

As early as 11a.m, voting was already concluded at some polling stations with majorly the agents of the PDP holding sway.