The Peoples Democratic Party did not participate in the election after it announced its withdrawal in February, alleging that the exercise had a predetermined outcome.
But the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, described the action of the PDP as “silly.”
Odigie-Oyegun spoke to journalists shortly after casting his vote at Ward 2, Unit 2, Oredo Local Government Area of the state.
He stated that the PDP had only done itself more harm as the election would have provided an opportunity for the opposition party to mobilise its supporters.
He said, “It is silly because however much you rate your chances as low, it is still an opportunity to mobilise and energise your followers. The injury is to the boycotting party.’’
A total of 10 political parties were cleared by the State Independent Electoral Commission to field candidates for the chairmanship and councillorship seats.
Although voting and accreditation were scheduled to begin simultaneously at 8am, the electoral materials didn’t get to many of the polling units as of 9.30am on Saturday.
Some ad hoc staff of ESIEC were seen at the commission’s office in the Oredo council area trying to convey the electoral materials to the polling units as of 9.04am.
Our correspondent, who monitored the election, observed that eligible voters, who turned out for the exercise were few in many local government areas.
The situation was noticed in Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Egor, Esan West, Esan Central, Owan East and Owan West.
The situation was, however, different in Esan North-East, Etsako West, Etsako East and Etsako Central, where the turnout was large.
In the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, only a few eligible voters at ward six in Itohan Girls’ Grammar School were seen waiting for the exercise to begin.
One of them, who identified herself only as Helen Asemota, expressed displeasure with the situation.
Asemota said, “I am not happy about it (delay) at all. We have had elections in state in the past. But for today, we do not really know what is happening.
“Is it because the PDP is not part of the election that the whole place is scanty? We do not know. But I will wait until they (ESIEC officials) come.’’
Another voter, Pastor Faruk Muhammed, however, said he was hopeful that the election would hold, since the commission had yet gone beyond the 4pm deadline for the conclusion of the exercise.
When contacted, the spokesman for the commission, Mr. Tony Alile, said he would get back to our correspondent.
Alile said, “I am leaving the commission’s headquarters right now. I want to go and take a first-hand look at some these things that I got a report about. Since I have your number, I will call you and update you.”
But the exercise was peaceful as personnel of the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were seen at most of the polling units visited.
The state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, told our correspondent that there was no report of violence and no arrest was made.
Kokumo said, “So far, there has not been any negative report of any sort from any of the polling units. The voters have turned out en masse to cast their votes in a very hitch-free and secure environment.’’
The state governor, Godwin Obaseki, cast his vote at 12.32pm at his polling unit in Ward 4, Unit 19, located at Emokpae Primary School, in the Oredo Local Government Area of the state.
Obaseki, who was accompanied by his wife, Betsy, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, including the distribution of materials.
He said, “So far so good. I have been monitoring the distribution of materials since morning. I have been speaking with the chairman of ESIEC. Reports reaching me say that things have gone up very smoothly.’’
When asked to react to the perceived voter apathy, Obaseki said, “I do not see any low turnout. What has happened is that the candidates have gone out to mobilise people because I have challenged them that their votes should be more than I what I received as a governor.’’
The governor also dismissed speculation that the refusal of the PDP to participate in the election affected the exercise.
Also, the immediate past governor, Adams Oshiomhole, described the election as the end of opposition in the state and a celebration of democracy.
Oshiomhole, who spoke after casting his vote in Iyamho, in the Etsako West Local Government Area, stated, “With this election, we have just completed the liquidation of the PDP. There is no further proof of that liquidation other than that they have on their own admitted defeat.”
Odigie-Oyegun blamed the low turnout of voters on the nature of the election, which he said was less emotive.
The state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, described Odigie-Oyegun comment as unfortunate.
Orbih, in a text message to our correspondent, said, “Odigie-Oyegun’s statement is unfortunate. It shows why the nation is going backwards since his party came to power. He ought to condemn the Edo State Government for going ahead with the elections even when the matter was before the law court. His party thrives on impunity and they have no respect for the rule of law. “
