Reflections on the Edo State Governorship Election: Ugolor Speaks on the Task and Expectation Ahead of Incoming Governor-Elect Monday Okpebholo

BENIN CITY, NIGERIA… As the Edo State governorship election has come to a close, producing a winner, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Director of ANEEJ and anti-corruption expert, Rev. David Ugolor, appeared live on various TV interviews (ITV and AIT) to share his thoughts and insights on the election’s outcome and the expectations for the incoming governor-elect.

Rev. Ugolor acknowledged that while the election resulted in a winner, it was not without its challenges. He highlighted several irregularities, some of which stemmed from INEC’s lack of preparedness for unforeseen circumstances. For example, the unexpected rainfall caused delays in the arrival of electoral officials and materials, particularly in Edo South and Edo Central senatorial districts, which could have been avoided with better contingency planning. This oversight disenfranchised many voters, especially in areas where the BVAs machines malfunctioned due to weather conditions.

Furthermore, there were allegations from various political parties regarding falsification of results and intentional delays by electoral officers in reaching their designated polling units. Significant delays also occurred at the collation centres in Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo, the last results to be submitted before the winner was declared. Despite these challenges, Rev. Ugolor noted a key positive: the high level of security and the strong cooperation between security agencies, which helped ensure a largely peaceful election with no reported casualties.

Rev. Ugolor noted that ANEEJ as a key member in the Edo State Civil Society Situation Room, deployed over 50 accredited observers, along with an additional 190 citizen observers. Their reports revealed several anomalies, many of which were included in the group’s interim report. The low voter turnout, which was exacerbated by the rain, malfunctioning equipment and voter distrust of the system, heavy security presence were major concerns that must be addressed in future elections to ensure greater voter participation, particularly young people.

While Rev. Ugolor commended the work of the Returning Officers, he stressed that there is still room for improvement in the election process, particularly in the timely collation and announcement of results.

Looking ahead, Rev. Ugolor urged the governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to approach his victory with humility and reflect on the subdued reactions across parts of the state. He emphasized the need for the incoming administration to address unresolved concerns and ensure that governance is inclusive and responsive to the needs of all citizens.

Moreover, he spoke on the broader lessons that both winners and losers must take from the election. He underscored the importance of political parties collaborating with civil society organizations (CSOs) to build stronger institutions. Politicians often neglect CSO engagement until they face institutional challenges themselves, as seen in the lack of progress on crucial reforms like the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, Anti-Corruption Law and implementation of Open Government Partnership which has yet to be passed in Edo State despite eight years of Governor Obaseki’s administration.

Rev. Ugolor concluded by calling on those who lost the election to use this opportunity to join forces with CSOs in pushing for reforms that will strengthen democratic institutions, enhance transparency, and ensure that citizens can access critical information and redress grievances. Watch highlights here: AIT | ITV