Governor Adams Oshiomhole after casting his ballot

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The zero hour for the selection of the candidate of the all Progressives Congress (APC), by the party delegates for the September 10 governorship election, finally commenced at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin by 5:55 pm.

Committee chairman, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, who announced the commencement of the election, assured the delegates that the committee will be fair and just to all.

He said: “The interest of Edo state should be the driving motive of those who want to be at the driving seat of Edo State. Whoever emerges winner of the delegate election will need the other aspirants’ support to face candidates of other parties, hence, no looser at the end of the day.”‎

Masari announced that a total of 2,771 delegates were approved for the delegate election by the national headquarters of the APC, out of which ‎2,582 were accredited.

Odubu dropping his ballot paper

While explaining the voting partan, Masari disclosed that delegates will simply need to ‎thumb print against the picture of candidate of their choice, adding that delegates are expected to leave the venue after casting their ballot.

He also announced that the election will be conducted local government by local government in alphabetical order, beginning with Akoko-Edo local government, but after statutory delegates have voted.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole who was accredited first, cast his vote by 6:02 pm and was immediately followed by his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, who is also an aspirant.

Six ballot boxes were provided ‎in the open for the election.

Officials of the election‎ however sternly warned all delegates against snapping pictures of their ballot papers after thumb-printing them.

Speaking with journalists immediately after casting his vote, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, described rumours of purchase and cloning of PVCs allegeedly by a particular aspirant, as fallacy.
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He assured that the election would be fair and transparent.