PDP's Ighodalo Predicted to Win Edo Election, Poll Shows
- The EBDA poll, audited by BusinessDay, shows Asue Ighodalo of the PDP leading with 68% of the vote for the upcoming Edo State governorship election, significantly ahead of his competitors
- The poll indicates that 96.9% of surveyed voters have collected their PVCs, but only 73.1% are committed to voting due to concerns about transportation, security, and vote impact
- Sharon Orisakwe from EBDA predicts a low voter turnout of around 20% based on historical trends
A recent poll conducted by the Edo Business Development Agency (EBDA) and audited by BusinessDay indicates that Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, is currently the front-runner in the upcoming Edo State governorship election.
According to the poll, which surveyed 1,179 registered voters across Edo State, Ighodalo is leading with 68 per cent of the vote if the election were held today.
Ighodalo's significant lead places him well ahead of his main competitors. Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) trails with 18 per cent, while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party receives 14 per cent of the projected vote.
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The poll also delved into voter intentions and demographics. It revealed that 96.9 per cent of those surveyed have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), though only 73.1 per cent are committed to voting. Concerns such as transportation costs, security, and doubts about the impact of their votes were cited by those hesitant to vote.
An interesting finding from the poll is the gender disparity among likely voters, with 68 per cent male and 32 per cent female, despite a nearly equal gender distribution in the INEC voter register.
The poll also touched on support for the zoning of political offices in Edo State. While 61.2 per cent of respondents support rotating power among different regions, this is a decrease from previous levels of support.
Sharon Orisakwe, Managing Director of EBDA, warned that voter turnout might be low, predicting around 20 per cent based on historical trends in Edo State.
The top three issues voters want addressed by the next governor are the rising cost of living, road infrastructure, and insecurity.
Conducted via randomised telephone interviews, the poll used proportionate, stratified random sampling and has a margin of error of 3 per cent with a 95 per cent confidence level.
These factors ensure the reliability of the poll results as the September 21 election approaches. However, voter sentiment may still shift in the lead-up to the election.
Rivers crisis: Why I can't be sacked as governor - Fubara
Meanwhile, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has declared that he cannot be ousted from his position before his term concludes.
He emphasised that his election in 2023 was backed by popular support, warranting his right to serve out his tenure without interference.
Fubara further reassured the state's residents, affirming his administration's commitment to safeguarding lives and properties.
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Source: Legit.ng