Edo Decides: Oshiomole, Okpebholo, Akpata Express Satisfaction With Election Process

By Ayodele Oni

A former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo and Labour Party Candidate, Olumide Akpata, have voted at their respective Wards in the ongoing election.

Oshiomole voted at his Ward 10 Unit 01 Estako West Local Government Area, while Okpebholo

cast his vote in his  PU003, Uwessan 1, Esan Central  Local Government Area and Akpata voted

voted at polling unit 11 ward in Oredo Local Government Area.

Senator Oshiomhole voted after waiting in the queue for over one hour. His nonagenarian mother, Aisha Oshiomhole, voted at the same polling unit.

Speaking to journalists after he voted, the former Edo Governor said his projects endeared the people to him.

He denied report that the All Progressives Congress (APC) stock-pilled money to buy votes adding that he has not received any report of violence from anywhere across the state.

“It is laughable when I heard this kind of allegation. Have you seen anywhere where they are sharing money? People turned out in large numbers to vote for us because they want good government.

“During our campaign people came out to see me not because I wanted to give them something but because of what I have done for them while I was in the office as the governor.

“All structures that I have put in place 12, 13 years ago are still there but the ones put up by the present administration, in one year, they are washed off.

“So our people have seen the difference. Some people do tell me that since I left the government, they haven’t seen the real presence of government in their communities.

“The voters know what they want. I am happy the media are here showing live pictures from a rural village like mine. Other people will watch it and see the election is peaceful.

“Rural people deserve a greater share of the federal budget than state budget. You can see that the people are peaceful.”

Okpebholo, who is the senator, representing Edo Central Zone, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not get a single vote at his polling unit as the party is not popular in his area.

“What I am seeing here is testimony that INEC is getting it right.

“PDP or whatever will not get one vote here because this is my home and my people love me. I have nothing to fear. What they are saying about security is hyping. No knock out or a stick of matches. It is just to scare people away from voting.”

Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata, expressed satisfaction with the voting process, but hoped that it would be the same throughout the state.