Governor Monday Okpebholo has described voter turnout in the Edo State local government elections as encouraging, while accredited election observers commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of the exercise across the state.
This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.
The governor spoke after casting his ballot at Ward 2, Udomi Primary School, in Esan Central Local Government Area, where voting commenced early with electoral officials and security personnel on the ground.
Okpebholo arrived at his polling unit at about 10:24 a.m., joined other voters in the queue and cast his vote at exactly 10:40 a.m. He later interacted with stakeholders before addressing journalists covering the election.
He commended voters for their orderly conduct, saying reports from across the state indicated that the election was progressing peacefully.
“This election is very peaceful and it is going smoothly based on the feedback we are getting from the field. The turnout is very high. This is a demonstration of grassroots democracy. It shows that our people are interested in choosing those who will administer the affairs of their local governments. By the grace of God, a winner will emerge at the end of today’s election,” he said.
The governor urged residents to remain peaceful throughout the voting process and await the official declaration of results by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC).
Accredited election observers also gave positive assessments of the conduct of the poll. Executive Director of the Initiative for Awareness of Civic Education for Citizens, Comrade Fidelis Nwoke, said observer groups deployed across the state had not recorded any major security breaches or disruptions.
According to him, his organisation and other accredited observer groups monitored polling units in Udomi, Igueben and other locations, where the exercise was generally peaceful, orderly and smooth.
“Reports coming in from different parts of the state indicate that the process has been peaceful so far. We have observed that the exercise has been peaceful, orderly and smooth. Electoral officials arrived, voters have been able to cast their ballots and, at the end of the exercise, winners and losers will naturally emerge,” Nwoke said.
Security personnel were visible at polling centres visited by journalists, while voters queued patiently to cast their ballots.
At Udomi Primary School, where the governor voted, residents expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, describing the process as orderly and transparent.
Three voters—Christopher Ejodamen, Timothy Uwaya and Lucky Okoawo—said they voted without intimidation or harassment, adding that the peaceful atmosphere encouraged greater voter participation.
They also expressed support for Governor Okpebholo’s administration, saying ongoing infrastructure projects and other development initiatives across Edo State inspired many residents to participate in the election.
The local government election was conducted across the 18 local government areas of Edo State to elect chairmen and councillors under the supervision of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), with accredited observers, journalists and security agencies monitoring the exercise.
As voting continued in many parts of the state, observers expressed optimism that the peaceful atmosphere recorded during the early stages of the poll would be sustained until voting ended and the results were announced.
