BENIN CITY, Nigeria — The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has won a resounding victory in the local government elections held in Edo State on Saturday, September 2, 2023, according to the results released by the state’s independent electoral commission.
The party secured wins in all 18 local government areas, spanning Edo North, Edo Central, and Edo South senatorial districts.
The elections featured several political parties, with the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Labour Party, LP, being the other major contenders for Chairmanship and Councillorship seats.
However, the PDP dominated across the board, securing impressive numbers in several key districts.
Election Highlights
In Ovia South West, the PDP secured 10,721 votes, leading APC’s 5,361 and LP’s 3,216.
In Uhunmwode, the PDP tallied 15,615 votes, far surpassing APC’s 2,317 and LP’s 1,436.
In Etsako West, one of the most populated local governments, PDP secured a staggering 98,046 votes, dwarfing APC’s 29,445 and LP’s 23,832.
Notably, the margin of victory was overwhelming in several areas, such as in Egor Local Government, where PDP secured 70,293 votes, substantially outpacing APC’s 8,308 and LP’s 10,188.
The total registered voters in Egor were 347,076, with an accredited voter turnout of 92,554.
The election also had its share of invalid votes across local governments, but these did not impact the overall outcome.
For example, in Ovia South West, there were 429 invalid votes, but with a total of 21,442 accredited voters, the PDP’s lead was unassailable.
Reactions
The sweeping victory will likely bolster the PDP’s standing in the state and could have implications for future elections, including the gubernatorial and federal elections.
Political analysts suggest that this outcome may reflect growing public approval of the PDP’s governance in Edo State.
However, critics argue that local government elections are often less competitive than national elections and that the PDP’s victory should be interpreted cautiously.
Neither the APC nor the Labour Party has released any official statement in response to the election outcome.
This comprehensive win for the PDP in Edo State has set a precedent and tone for the political landscape in the state, and possibly even beyond.
Observers are keenly watching to see how this will shape local and national politics in the run-up to Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.
