Edo 2024 was the most peaceful elections ever recorded in Edo state, but why was the turnout the lowest in the history of Edo state elections. INEC recorded a turnout of 24% of voters (560k voters) with huge majority of them looking to sell their votes to the highest bidder. The voters were looking for buyers regardless of party- APC, PDP, or Labour Party. Allegedly, with evidence, both the PDP & APC bought votes while the Labour Party who abstained stated they could not afford it. With votes going for as much as N30,000, the election went on to be labelled as a transaction, long way before the collation centre drama and subsequent announcement which pronounced APC as the winner of Edo 2024.
For PDP and the state Governor Godwin Obaseki, no matter the attempts they make to deflect it, this defeat was a clear statement. It represented a referendum of the PDP’s performance for 8 years and sent out a practical message- there is no food, no job, no money in Edo state and that is why we are selling our votes. A message quite contrary to that of Godwin Obaseki about his performance in Edo State- 200,000 jobs, Edobest etc
One was also quietly surprised that even the Edo civil servants and Obaseki’s social media rats did not come through for the PDP to prep up the numbers.
If you also factor in the way Godwin Obaseki has conducted Edo elections in the past, then you will not be surprised why most Edo people did not turn out.
The reason for the dis-interest, low voter turnout and vote selling is a reflection of the failures of his government. For many years he has had the luxury of ducking the relevant questions after his bad decisions. But in this election the voters have passed judgement on his administration and its failures.
LP candidate Olumide Akpata has already acknowledged defeat in an uneven playing field. However, for the PDP, well, it’s tough and I think they are still looking for someone to blame for why they lost.
In Godwin Obaseki’s address to Edolites, after the Edo 2024 election results had been announced, he described the results of Edo 2024 as not only a democratic tragedy but also a travesty, and he blamed the outcome on INEC. I wholeheartedly disagree because Godwin Obaseki’s terrible rap sheet in Edo state over the last 8 years is the true reason why his party lost.
For 8 years Godwin Obaseki broke the Nigerian constitution at almost every turn to achieve his political agenda in Edo State. His misinterpretations and enforcements of the Nigerian constitution against his political foes was so brazen. Who can forget the 14 house of assembly members not sworn in, the 5 judges not sworn in, the local government elections clean sweep conduct, the PDP Primaries process, the deputy’s governor’s impeachment, the many constituencies without representation for years, the disrespectful court cases against the BTC and his disregard for court orders … the list goes on.
As far as I can see today, Edos have already confined Godwin Obaseki to the past. His story reads of someone who has had a spectacular fall from hero to zero – A story of how an inexperienced rookie plucked from political obscurity by Adams Oshiomhole in 2016 became someone who ruled Edo State as a fearful overlord for 8 years. GO was a man who had it all, twice, and threw it all away, twice. Someone whose short comings of people management let him down on the big stage. Godwin Obaseki messed everything up by himself.
My next write up in the Godwin Obaseki egomaniac series will explain why there are no planned protest across the Edo diaspora to give PDP back their self-proclaimed stolen mandate.
The Editor