Pat Stevens/
Fatima, daughter of Kano State governor, who doubles as the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Edo Governorship Election Campaign Committee, Abdullahi Ganduje, has exonerated her father of any blame in the loss of the election by the party.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced all results in the governorship election held yesterday in Edo State with Governor Godwin Obaseki of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winning in 13 out of 18 local governments.
According to INEC, Obaseki polled a total vote of 307,955 to defeat Pastor Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 223,619 votes to place second among 14 candidates whose parties participated in the election.
Obaseki had defeated his closest rival, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in 2016, when he contested on the platform of APC and Ize-Iyamu flew the flag of PDP.
Yesterday, Obaseki contested on the platform of PDP and Ize-Iyamu was APC candidate.
Taking to her Twitter handle just before the winner of the election was declared by the election umpire, Fatima, who is married to late Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s son, said her father was not from Edo and should not be blamed for APC’s loss in the election.
According to her, the loss of the Edo Governorship Election can not rubbish her father’s records of achievement in Kano State, which earned him a second term in office.
She wrote, “The truth is, as Nigerians we should only consider work on ground. No one should say shit about Ganduje unless you have done equal or more work. Simple. He is not from Edo and kano as a state is above many.”
The election, according to political leaders and observers was generally peaceful, but electoral officers reported that a staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was shot by unknown gunmen yesterday and another was injured in the face.
NewsmakersNG reported that a suspected ballot-box snatcher was killed during the election.
Results announced are: Igueben – APC 5199 PDP 7870, Esan North East – APC 6556 PDP 13579, Esan Central – APC 6719 PDP 10694, Ikpoba Okha – APC 18218 PDP 41030, Uhunmwonde – APC 5972 PDP 10022, Egor – APC 10202 PDP 27621, Owan East – APC 19295 PDP 14762, Owan West – APC 11193 PDP 11485, Ovia North – APC 9907 PDP 16987, Etsako West – APC 26140 PDP 17959, Esan South East – APC 9237 PDP 10563, Oredo – APC 18365 PDP 43498, Esan West – APC 7189 PDP 17434, Akoko Edo – APC 22,963 PDP 20101, Etsako East APC 17, 011 PDP 10668, Etsako Central – APC 8359 PDP 7478, Orhionmwon -APC 10,458 PDP 13,445, Ovia Southwest – APC 10,636 PDP 12,659.
The results were announced at the INEC’s collating centre in Benin City, Edo State today.
Thousands of votes were cancelled at various units for what INEC officials called over-voting and ballot box snatching. NewsmakersNG learnt that a suspected ballot-box snatcher was killed by a mob at Unit 13, Ward 6, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo North.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has commended INEC and expressed satisfaction with the polls as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Adeleye Oyebade who is coordinating the security operations urged the people of Edo State to remain calm and sustain the peace so far achieved.
Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal also expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election. He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and INEC for making the exercise peaceful, free and fair.
0