We ‘re in early lead – PDP It’s wishful thinking – APC
By Patrick Ahanor and Bode Olagoke, Benin City
The Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has claimed that results so far collated in yesterday’s governorship election, put the party’s candidate, Osagie-Ize Iyamu, in the early lead over his All Progressives Congress rival, Godwin Obaseki.
The party, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, at about 7.pm yesterday, Chris Nehikhare, expressed concern that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was yet to commence the announcement even when voting had stopped at 2.pm.
But our correspondents report that “for now, the lead is neither here nor there, as results trickled in polling units by polling units putting the two candidates side by side.”
As at 10.00pm when collation was still on, results from 727 polling units (2,672 units), showed that APC had 69,196 with PDP scoring 75,088 votes.
Notwithstanding, Nehikare, who stated that counting of ballot started immediately after voting, said, “from results made available to us, we are in a very comfortable lead.”
According to him, “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.
“INEC should tell Governor Adams Oshiomhole that the changing and swapping of results at the collation center is a no-no! Even worse is the attempt to prevent our agents into the collation centers.
“We, however, advise our supporters and members to remain calm and in a few more hours, the liberation of Edo will be official,” he stated.
But the APC has described the PDP’s claim as a wishful thinking.
APC acting National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, who spoke with one of our reporters on phone last night, said, “ it is unthinkable for PDP to lay claim to early lead at an election that is yet to conclude.
“The counting is still ongoing and INEC has not officially declared any result. So, where did PDP got its early lead from?. It is a wishful thinking.”
