The long-awaited governorship election in Edo State is underway today, Saturday.
Incumbent, Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, faces a monstrous battle to return for another term of four years.
Although 14 parties fielded candidates for the poll, observers have argued that the election would be a two horse race between the PDP and the All Progressives Congress.
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC is backed by ex-Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and the strong forces in the ruling party.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at least 1.72 million persons are eligible to vote in the poll.
In a document released to journalists on Friday and titled: “Delimitation of Edo State,” the commission added that 483,796 eligible voters would not participate in the exercise.
It said the ineligible voters failed to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
According to INEC, there were 2,210,534 registered voters in the state as of August 2018, though, only 1,726,738 collected their PVCs.
However, observers believe that atleast 12 out of the 18 local government areas will play a decisive role in who emerges as winner.
The battleground local government areas are Egor, Ikpoba/Okha, Oredo, Ovia North-East, Ovia South-West and Uhunmwode.
Others are Akoko Edo, Owan West, Owan East, Etsako East, Etsako West and Etsako Central.
Six out of the 12 battleground LGAs are located in the Edo South Senatorial District where both the incumbent and the leading opposition candidate hail from.
