As the Edo State governorship election holds on Saturday, September 21, 2024, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has deployed its operatives to all local government areas in Edo State to tackle voters’ inducement.
A statement on Friday by the Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale said the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede, stated that the EFCC was committed to ensuring electoral integrity.
He vowed to insulate voters from financial inducement in exercising their franchise.
The statement read, “Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have deployed operatives to all local government areas in Edo State to tackle voters’ inducement in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
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“The Executive Chairman of the commission stated that the EFCC was committed to the attainment of electoral integrity across the country by insulating voters from every form of financial inducement in exercising their franchise.”
Olukoyede warned that vote buying is a crime, adding that the EFCC wouldn’t condone it in any election.
He said, “The Commission has always been involved in monitoring every electoral process across the country in line with its mandate of tackling all forms of economic and financial crimes.
“Our operatives have been deployed to monitor the conduct of the elections. We are committed to the attainment of electoral integrity by ensuring that voters cast their votes democratically without any form of financial inducement. Vote buying is a financial crime and the EFCC won’t allow it anywhere.”
Meet candidates vying for governorship
The leading candidates Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata vying to become the number one citizen of the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission announced on Tuesday that out of 2,629,025 registered voters in Edo State, 2,249,780 Permanent Voter’s Cards have been collected ahead of the governorship election.
INEC said 379,245 (14.43 per cent) of the PVCs remain uncollected. Voting is expected to take place in the 4,519 Polling Units in the state.
Seventeen candidates are vying for the governorship position of Edo State, with 16 men and one woman in the running.
Below is the list of contesting candidates:
- All Progressives Congress – Senator Monday Okpebholo
He is from Udomi in Uwesan-Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area. He currently serves as a senator under the APC representing Edo Central senatorial district.
- People’s Democratic Party – Asue Ighodalo
Asue Ighodalo is from Okaigben, Ewohimi, in Esan South-East LGA which is in Edo Central. He is the former chairman of Sterling Bank and a former economic adviser to a former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole as well as the current Governor Godwin Obaseki.
- Labour Party – Olumide Akpata
The former national chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Edo South Senatorial district, Edo State. Olumide Akpata was a top executive at Templars law firm in Nigeria, serving as senior partner and head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group until August 31, 2023.
- Action Alliance – Tom Iseghohi
Iseghohi, who left the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria as the Group Managing Director in 2014, is also the Chairman of Emerging Global Capital,
- New Nigeria Peoples Party – Azena Azemhe Friday
Azena Azemhe Friday is the South-South regional pastor of Omega Fire Ministries. He hails from Okpekpe in Etsako-east LGA in Edo North senatorial district.
- All Progressives Grand Alliance – Osifo Isiah
Osifo was a chief of staff to a former governor of the state, Oserheimen Osunbor. He is also a former chairman of Uhunmwonde Local Government Council. He is from Imalele Osifo quarters in Uvbenisi, Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Edo State.
- All People Movement – Ugiagbe Sylvester
The APM flagbearer is a graduate of Auchi Polytechnic.
- All Peoples Party – Areleogbe Osalumese
He is an accountant and a native of Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.
- Action Democratic Party – Kingson Akhime Afere
The 37-year-old contested the Edo North senatorial post under the same party in the 2023 election but lost to Adams Oshiomhole.
- African Action Congress – Udoh David
The AAC candidate is 37 years old and half from Emu, Esan South Local Government Area of Edo State.
- Zenith Labour Party – Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena
The ZLP candidate, 43, holds a bachelor’s degree and has chosen Idubor Joyce as his running mate.
- Boot Party – Osirame Edeipo
The 47-year-old holds a bachelor’s degree. Omorogbe Kingsley is his running mate for the election.
- Accord Party – Iyere Kennedy
Kennedy is a human rights advocate. He officially withdrew from the 2024 Edo Gubernatorial election on Friday.
- African Democratic Congress – Osarenren Derek Izedonmwen
Osarenren Derek is an engineer whose vision is to transform Edo into a hub of prosperity, innovation, and opportunity according to this profile.
- Peoples Redemption Party -Patience Key Ndidi
Patience, the election’s sole female contestant, is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and humanitarian from Ekhekhen, Igueben Local Government Area, Edo State.
- Young Progressive Party – Paul Okungbowa Ovbokhan
Ovbokhan is an educationist, entrepreneur, and life coach, with a degree from the University of Benin.
- Social Democratic Party – Aner Abdullahi Aliu
INEC records show Aliu possesses a WAEC certificate, and he firmly believes the SDP is Edo State’s best hope for positive change.
