Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has secured a clean sweep in Edo state’s local government elections, winning all 18 chairmanship positions and every one of the 192 councillorship seats in a result that further consolidates the party’s control of grassroots administration in the state.
Announcing the outcome on Sunday, the chairman of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), Jonathan Aifuobhokhan, said the elections had been conducted substantially in accordance with the law despite what he described as minor operational challenges.
Speaking at the commission’s headquarters in Benin City, Aifuobhokhan said the disruptions recorded in a handful of polling areas were not significant enough to affect either the integrity or the overall outcome of the vote.
“The electoral process, comprising accreditation, voting, sorting, counting, collation and declaration of results, was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Edo State Local Government Electoral Law, the Electoral Act and the commission’s guidelines,” he said.
According to the official declaration, the APC won all 18 local government chairmanship elections as well as all 192 councillorship contests held across the state.
The commission said ward and local government returning officers had carried out their statutory responsibilities “professionally, impartially and in accordance with the law”, adding that the election was conducted peacefully overall.
Aifuobhokhan praised voters for participating in the exercise and commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for allowing the electoral commission to perform its duties without interference.
He added that certificates of return would be presented to the successful candidates on Monday.
The outcome gives the APC complete control of local government leadership across Edo, strengthening the party’s political dominance following its recent electoral gains in the state.
While the commission acknowledged logistical difficulties in some locations, it maintained that these did not materially affect the credibility of the poll. It also encouraged aggrieved parties to pursue any complaints through the courts rather than outside the legal process.
“The commission remains committed to the continual improvement of its electoral processes through periodic reviews and stakeholder engagement,” Aifuobhokhan said.
The result is likely to draw scrutiny from opposition parties, which have frequently questioned the competitiveness and transparency of local government elections conducted by state electoral commissions across Nigeria, where ruling parties often secure overwhelming victories.
