APC, PDP Claim Lead As Results Trickle In As #EdoDecides

The National Caretaker Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) headed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi last night said its candidate in the Edo State governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, was in early lead. But this was not independently verified by Daily Trust at press time midnight.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state also said it was sure of victory but would allow the electoral body to do its work.

The spokesman of the committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in a statement said “Having received results from our agents from approximately 1,800 of the 2,627 polling units across the 192 wards in the 18 local government areas of Edo State, we can confirm that our party has attained a near unassailable lead in the Edo State gubernatorial election.

“The results so far confirm to us that our candidate has garnered approximately 55% of the total votes cast. We have every reason to be confident that we will maintain this trend and coast home to victory.

“However, we are aware that members of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, in collusion with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Mrs. Amina Waziri, are relentless in their efforts to manipulate the results of this election.

“We are aware that Governor Oshiomhole is currently moving from collation centre to collation centre with the objective of manipulating the results as much as possible. We would like to reiterate our earlier notes of warning. The Edo people, and our party, will resist any attempt to subvert the collective will of the people as expressed by their votes today,” the PDP said.

However, the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said late last night that the PDP was being mischievous by pre-empting INEC.

The state chairman of the party, Aslem Ojezua, said those championing the course of the PDP knew that they lost the election but were using propaganda to claim victory.

He said the APC was sure of victory but would allow INEC to do its work.