Edo Guber: Who succeeds Obaseki?

The stage is set for the Edo State governorship election, where voters will choose a successor to Governor Godwin Obaseki. Approximately 2.249 million voters, who have collected their Permanent Voters Cards, will select from 18 candidates, including 17 men and one woman, to lead the state from November 12, 2024, to 2028.

The Contenders

The election is shaping up to be a three-horse race among:

– PDP’s Dr. Asue Ighodalo
– APC’s Senator Monday Okpebhelo
– Labour Party’s Mr. Olumide Akpata

Edo’s Electoral Landscape

Edo State has three senatorial districts, 18 local government areas, 192 wards, and 4,519 polling units. The state’s electoral strength is distributed among:

– Edo South: 1,526,699 registered voters
– Edo North: 673,794 registered voters
– Edo Central: 440,514 registered voters

The Battle for Edo South

Edo South, with 54% of the state’s voting strength, is crucial to winning the election. Akpata enjoys immense support here, while Ighodalo has Governor Obaseki’s backing.

Edo Central and Edo North

Edo Central, the smallest zone, may see a split in votes between Ighodalo and Okpebhelo. Edo North, dominated by the APC, may favor Okpebhelo due to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s influence.

Other Candidates

Eighteen political parties are contesting the election, including Accord Party, Action Alliance, African Action Congress, and others.