On Saturday, September 28, 2024, the Edo Governorship Election was held. Out of the 17 candidates, two emerged formidable, a 54-year-old Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressive Congress (APC), who won the election with 291,667 votes. Close to him is Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 247,274 votes and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) who came a distant third in the race with 22,763 votes. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer for the poll, Prof Faruk Kuta, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, in Niger State, revealed that out of the 2,629,025 registered voters, 2,249,780 (85.57%) have Permanent Voters’ Cards determining the fate of the candidates in the 4,519 polling units in Edo State.
Other candidates that participated in the election are Tom Iseghohi, Action Alliance; Azena Azemhe Friday, New Nigeria Peoples Party; Osifo Isiah, All Progressives Grand Alliance; Ugiagbe Sylvester, All Peoples Movement; Areleogbe Osalumese, All Peoples Party; Kingson Akhime Afere, Action Democratic Party, Udoh David, African Action Congress; Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena, Zenith Labour Party; Osirame Edeipo, Boot Party; Accord Party, Iyere Kennedy; Aner Abdullahi Aliu, Social Democratic Party; Osarenren Derek Izedonmwen, African Democratic Congress; Paul Okungbowa Ovbokhan, Young Progressive Party and Patience Key Ndidi of the People’s Redemption Party, the only female candidate.
The election, which was rejected by PDP because it lost out was described by its candidate, Ighodolo as the darkest moment in the history of Edo State, and a mockery of democracy by Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate was stated to have been marred by vote buying, falsification, and manipulation of results by INEC.
However, the election will be remembered not just for its electoral outcomes, but for the series of mistakes and critical lessons that emerged throughout the process. As the state grapples with the political and social implications of the election, it is important to reflect on the shortcomings and extract valuable insights for the future.
The key mistake recorded during the election which has become a permanent feature of Nigerian election was the logistical challenges and delays. One of the most significant issues that marred the 2024 Edo governorship election was poor logistical planning. INEC faced difficulties in ensuring the timely arrival of electoral materials some local government areas. Reports indicated that some polling units received voting materials late, causing frustration among voters and extending the voting process well beyond the scheduled time.
This delay led to confusion and long queues at polling stations, deterring many eligible voters from exercising their democratic rights. In some areas, voting was extended into the night, raising concerns about transparency and security. The inability to provide adequate resources and ensure effective coordination highlighted serious gaps in the logistical preparedness of INEC.
Also, the technical failures of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), is another error INEC has not been able to find a solution to. The BVAS, designed to improve the credibility of the election by electronically accrediting voters, encountered several technical failures. Reports from multiple polling stations revealed that BVAS devices malfunctioned, resulting in prolonged waiting periods and challenges in accrediting voters. In some instances, voters had to be accredited manually, which potentially compromised the integrity of the process.
The technical hitches not only delayed the election but also raised concerns about the reliability of electronic voting systems. This failure mirrored issues experienced in previous elections across Nigeria and highlighted the urgent need for a more robust and well-tested technological framework.
During the election, voter Intimidation and violence occurred. A persistent issue in Nigerian elections, voter intimidation, and violence were again prominent during the 2024 Edo election. Isolated incidents of clashes between party supporters were reported, particularly in hotly contested areas. In some regions, thugs were allegedly employed to scare away voters or disrupt the voting process.
Though security personnel were deployed to maintain peace, their presence was insufficient in some volatile areas, and in a few cases, security officers were accused of bias or inefficiency in quelling tensions. These incidents not only undermined the credibility of the election but also discouraged voter participation.
Lastly, intra-party conflicts and poor candidate selection characterized the emergence of candidates. Internal wranglings, disagreements over candidate selection, and accusations of imposition of candidates by party leaders weakened party cohesion. In particular, some political parties fielded candidates who were not widely accepted by their members, leading to discontent and defections.
The lack of consensus on candidates and the resulting division weakened the overall strength of political parties, reducing their chances of winning and influencing voter turnout in their favour. This disunity also fueled voter apathy, as many citizens became disillusioned with the political process.
A Few lessons need to be learnt and they include improving election Logistics. The logistical challenges experienced during the Edo election underscored the need for INEC to improve its operational efficiency. The commission must invest in better planning, resource allocation, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that election materials reach polling stations on time. In addition, training of personnel and collaboration with relevant stakeholders should be prioritised to avoid a repeat of these mistakes in future elections.
There is a need to strengthen technological infrastructure. The recurring technical failures of BVAS and other electronic systems have revealed the need for Nigeria’s electoral body to re-evaluate and strengthen its technological infrastructure. INEC must rigorously test its equipment and provide backup systems to prevent or mitigate any malfunctions. Additionally, there should be a comprehensive review of past electoral technologies to identify weaknesses and improve future performance.
Furthermore, curbing electoral violence should become a priority for INEC and the Nigerian government. Addressing electoral violence requires a multi-faceted approach. There is a need for political actors to commit to non-violent agreements and for security agencies to demonstrate neutrality and professionalism in handling election-related incidents. Strengthening electoral laws to deter violent behaviour, coupled with adequate punishment for offenders, will help reduce the risk of violence. Ensuring that voters can participate in a safe environment is essential for preserving the integrity of elections.
The government should strengthen the legal framework to enhance the promotion of intra-party democracy. The intra-party conflicts that disrupted the electoral process serve as a reminder of the importance of democratic principles within political parties. To foster cohesion and improve the quality of governance, political parties must prioritise transparent, fair, and inclusive candidate selection processes. Leaders should encourage internal dialogue and discourage the imposition of unpopular candidates. This will not only increase party unity but also restore public confidence in political institutions.
Lastly, the government should promote voter education and participation. Voter apathy remains a challenge in Nigerian elections. Despite efforts to encourage voter turnout, many Edo citizens chose not to participate due to frustrations with the political process. The lesson here is clear: more needs to be done to educate voters about the importance of their civic duty and to create an environment in which voters feel confident that their votes will count.
Civil society organizations and the media should be actively involved in voter education campaigns, while political parties must engage with citizens beyond election periods to build trust and foster long-term democratic engagement.
