Atlantic Post

BENIN CITY, Edo State — As the political battle in Edo State reaches fever pitch, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) made a significant progress by uploading 98.58% of the results from the fiercely contested 2024 governorship election to its Results Viewing Portal (IReV). By 8:40 AM on Sunday, INEC had uploaded results from 4,455 out of the 4,519 polling units where elections were held. With the Edo political arena set ablaze with speculation, this unprecedented near-total transparency has provoked a cacophony of reactions, both within the state and nationally.

While this should be seen as a testament to the advancement of Nigeria’s electoral process, the political undercurrents are far from calm. The fierce rivalry between the major candidates – Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party – has only escalated with this development. Each camp has already begun jockeying for position, as a cloud of suspicion and tension hangs over what should be a straightforward process.

However, questions have begun swirling in Edo, and indeed across Nigeria, about whether the electoral process was truly free from manipulation, especially given the history of electoral malfeasance in the country. The stakes couldn’t be higher. At the centre of this storm is the future of Edo’s governance, as Governor Godwin Obaseki nears the end of his second term. Who will take over the keys to Osadebe House? The answer appears to be tantalisingly close, but controversies abound as 98.58% might not be enough to quell political unrest.

INEC’s IReV Uploads: A New Era of Transparency or the Dawn of New Controversies?

INEC’s IReV platform was designed as a technological innovation to improve electoral transparency by allowing real-time viewing of polling unit results. On paper, the success of uploading 98.58% of the results would seem to indicate a victory for democratic advancement in Nigeria. The ability of voters and stakeholders to view results as they are collated is undoubtedly a positive development, aimed at curbing electoral fraud and boosting public confidence in the system.

However, this digital innovation is not without its detractors. Skeptics argue that the introduction of the IReV system has merely shifted the battleground from physical ballot boxes to cyberspace. With 64 polling units still unaccounted for as of Sunday morning, critics have raised concerns over the integrity of the process. Could those remaining results swing the final outcome of the Edo election? In a state as politically charged as Edo, every vote is precious, and every delay in full results gives room for conjecture and wild theories.

The loudest questions come from the various political parties. Party loyalists are not just waiting for the final count; they are furiously analysing every uploaded result. Both the APC and PDP have lodged unofficial complaints about the accuracy of the results uploaded so far, claiming discrepancies in certain strongholds. Labour Party supporters, for their part, remain cautiously optimistic, but some have raised the alarm about potential foul play.

Political Actors and Their Strategies: A Game of High Stakes

The three main candidates – Senator Monday Okpebholo (APC), Asue Ighodalo (PDP), and Olumide Akpata (Labour Party) – each have a lot riding on this election, and their respective parties are pulling out all the stops to ensure their candidate comes out on top.

For Okpebholo, this election represents not just a chance to consolidate the APC’s growing influence in the South-South region but also a golden opportunity to silence critics who claim the party has lost its political relevance. Despite this, the APC’s trajectory in Edo has been anything but smooth. The scars of past internal party conflicts, particularly during Governor Obaseki’s dramatic departure from the party, are still fresh, and Okpebholo’s camp is aware that any misstep could spell disaster.

The PDP, on the other hand, sees Ighodalo’s candidacy as a chance to restore their dominance in the state. Having held sway in Edo under Obaseki, the party is looking to retain its grip on power despite the governor’s recent alignment with opposition forces. Ighodalo’s political ambition is seen as a direct continuation of the Obaseki legacy, a strategic move to appeal to the outgoing governor’s supporters while rallying the old guard of the PDP base. Yet, Ighodalo faces fierce resistance from both sides of the political spectrum, making his path to victory narrow and fraught with challenges.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, has captured the imagination of the younger generation of voters who see him as a fresh, untainted voice in Edo politics. His rise in prominence within the Labour Party and the strength of his appeal among urban voters have made him a wildcard in this election. Akpata’s campaign, which has been rooted in promises of reform and accountability, resonates with the growing disillusionment of many Edo voters, tired of the status quo. Whether this groundswell of support will be enough to secure him a victory remains uncertain, but his presence has shaken the traditional power dynamics of Edo politics.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner: Promises and Reassurances

During an interview on Arise Television, Edo State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anugbum Onuoha, attempted to calm the brewing storm. He reassured the public that the remaining results would be transmitted electronically without incident, barring any network disruptions.

“We have trained the operators for the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System). They are set. BVAS is to accredit the voters and to know the total number of voters that will vote at that level and that polling unit. After that, the voters will start voting. At the end of the day, they will count the results, and it will be uploaded to our IReV,” Onuoha explained.

His reassurances, however, have done little to calm the fears of many Edo voters. The spectre of potential “network disruptions” has become a point of contention. Will these network issues materialise, and if so, will they affect the outcome of the election? The shadow of previous elections, where technical glitches were weaponised to undermine the credibility of the electoral process, looms large.

In an era where cyber-security threats are increasingly sophisticated, concerns over the integrity of digital election systems are valid. While INEC has made significant strides in leveraging technology to enhance transparency, the possibility of interference, whether by external actors or internal sabotage, cannot be entirely discounted.

Edo’s Political Climate: A State on Edge

The tension in Edo State is palpable. Across major cities and rural communities, the mood is one of anxious anticipation, with whispers of alleged vote-buying, ballot stuffing, and manipulation growing louder by the hour. This election has become a referendum not just on the performance of INEC but also on the broader political future of the state and, by extension, the South-South region. With the APC, PDP, and Labour Party each having their own vision for the future, voters find themselves at a political crossroads.

Local political observers have pointed out that the Edo governorship election is a microcosm of the national struggle for power ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The battle lines drawn in Edo may foreshadow larger political realignments, especially as the ruling APC looks to maintain its dominance while opposition parties seek to capitalise on growing discontent.

What Lies Ahead?

As the #EdoDecides2024 election results near full completion, the air is thick with uncertainty. INEC’s technological advancements with IReV may represent a watershed moment for Nigeria’s electoral system, but the true test lies in how it handles the pressure from all sides. With only 98.58% of results uploaded, there is a lingering sense that anything can still happen.

While INEC appears determined to push through the digital era, the path forward is anything but clear. Will Edo’s political landscape shift dramatically, or will the state remain under the control of the traditional political elite? As voters, politicians, and the nation wait with bated breath, one thing is certain: this election will be remembered as a defining moment in Edo’s history.