By IIshaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Celebration is gradually bursting in the camp of Godwin Obaseki, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Saturday’s election in Edo State.
And the reason is simple. They are perceiving the strong, sweet aroma of victory.
Obaseki, who is the incumbent governor of Edo, is currently leading Osagie Ize-Iyamu, his All Progressives Congress (APC) rival, with more than 80,000 votes.
Out of the results of 13 local government areas declared so far by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Obaseki has secured victory in 10, leaving his opponent with three.
APC got 156,240 while PDP leads with 236,735.
The margin is 80,495.
Political pundits believe that the lead is unassailable.
Meanwhile, INEC officials have taken a one hour recess.
Results of the remaining five local governments will be announced later.
It appears that INEC is not leaving anything to chance. The electoral umpire would rather err on the side of caution by playing safe. Hours before the announcement, the electoral body said the delay in the receipt of collated results of the governorship election from local government areas in Edo State had delayed the collation at the state level.
INEC National Commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, announced this on Sunday morning in Benin.
Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC commissioner incharge of Edo, Bayelsa and Rivers states, is the commissioner overseeing the Edo election.
Addressing newsmen and party agents at the state collation centre, INEC headquarters in Benin, she said that results were still being expected from some local governments.
She said: “This is to inform you all that we are still waiting for results from the local government areas.
“I am sorry we have to wait before we start collation. Only one local government has arrived in the centre.
“We are going to wait until at least, when results from seven local government areas arrive in the centre before we start.
“We do not want anybody to cast aspersions on us. So we are going to wait,”.
