In a surprising turn of events in the ongoing Edo governorship election, Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party candidate, has lost his own polling unit to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, at Polling Unit 11, Ward 06 in Oredo Local Government Area.
The results from the polling unit reflect a notable performance from the PDP, which secured 41 votes, while the Labour Party garnered 32 votes, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) trailed with 19 votes.
Voters at the polling unit expressed their reactions to the unexpected outcome. “I thought the Labour Party would do better here, especially with all the campaign efforts,” said Nkechi, a local resident.
Another voter, Chuka, commented, “It’s surprising to see PDP take the lead. It shows that maybe people are looking for stability after all the recent changes.”
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The results at this polling unit are part of a larger trend observed throughout the state, where voter sentiment appears to be divided.
Akpata’s loss at his polling station raises questions about his campaign’s effectiveness and the potential impact on his overall bid for governorship.
Local political analyst Dr. Emeka Odugwu noted, “This loss at his polling unit could be indicative of broader challenges for the Labour Party in this election. It will be interesting to see how the overall results unfold, especially in key areas where they expected stronger support.”
As the election continues, the outcome in Akpata’s polling unit serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of electoral politics in Nigeria, where voter preferences can shift rapidly in response to local and national issues.