Edo Governorship Election: The Candidates, The Issues and Their Promises

Socio-Political Background

Edo is located in Nigeria’s South-South Geopolitical zone. Edo was part of the Mid-West State created in 1963. It would later become Bendel State in 1976 before being divided into two States – Edo and Delta State in 1991. Edo has a population of about 8 million people with three major ethnic groups – the Binis (57.54%), Esan (17.14%) and Afemai/Etsako  (12.19%) also make up other ethnic groups like  Owan (7.43%), and Akoko Edo (5.70%). Edo State has 3 Senatorial Districts made up of Edo North (Akoko Edo, Etsako East, Etsako Central, Etsako West, Owan East and Owan West),  Edo Central (Esan Central, Esan North East, Esan South-East, Esan West and  Igueben ) and Edo South ( Oredo, Orhionmwon, Ovia North East, Ovia South West, Egor, Ikpoba Okha and Uhunmwode). There are also 9 Federal Constituencies and 24 State Constituencies.With 18 Local Government Areas,  192 Registration Areas (Wards), 4,519 Polling units, and 2,629,025 Registered voters as of 2024. 

Off-cycle governorship elections, which fall outside the usual general election cycle, have been conducted in Edo State in 2012, 2016, and 2020, with the next one scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024. The 2020 governorship election took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting INEC to implement a policy for the safe conduct of elections. Voter turnout in 2020 was 25% lower than in the 2016 election. For the upcoming election, 2,629,025 registered voters are expected, comprising 52.11% men and 47.89% women. This represents a 4.9% increase from the 2023 general elections and an 18.93% rise from the 2020 governorship election.

Statistics

Number of Local Government Areas18
Registration Areas/Wards192
Polling Units4,519
Registered Voters 2,629,025 
Number of PVCs Collected 2,249,780
Number of Candidates/Political Parties18
Number of Accredited Media Organisations114 (721 personnel)
Number of Accredited Observers134 (124 domestic and 10 international)
Number of Security deployed43,000

The Issues

Governorship elections in Edo have always been highly contested with different dynamics coming into play. To better understand the promises being made by candidates in the upcoming Edo State Governorship elections on September 21, 2024, it is essential to consider the current issues that matter most to the citizens.

Edo State has in the past had pre-election violence, some of which are politically motivated. Politically motivated assassinations were prevalent at the beginning of Nigeria’s political journey from 1999 to 2007. These years were especially bloody with the assassinations of prominent Nigerians such as Bola Ige, and Marshal Harry among others. During the 2007 governorship elections in Edo State, over 5 people were killed with violence breaking out after the declaration of the election results. INEC office in Igarra was set ablaze along with an INEC official. The Niger Delta Dialogue highlights insecurity as a significant issue in Edo State, manifesting in various forms such as kidnapping for ransom, internet fraud, human trafficking, and armed robbery. Additionally, the state faces other forms of violence, including inter-communal boundary disputes, land conflicts, land grabbing, herders’ attacks, electoral violence, and political thuggery. There have also been reported cases of cult clashes in the State.  With these security challenges, the next elected Governor will need a comprehensive approach and direction on how to handle insecurity. 

UNICEF reports that 1 in 3 children are out of school in Nigeria, when broken down, it is 10.2 million at the primary school level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary level. Though Edo State has one of the lowest numbers of out-of-school children and has recently reported a 40% increase in Primary school enrolment, there are still 76,446 reported out-of-school children in Edo State who need to be in school. According to National Bureau of Statistics data, the Labour workforce population of Edo State is 1,985,765  out of which 19% are unemployed and 34.9% are underemployed.  With an estimated population of 4.7 million  with half of that falling within the youth category, any incoming government will have to focus on job creation and innovative social interventions to keep te young population engaged. In recently released statistics by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the number of newly registered voters in Edo State, 89.98% of the newly 119,206 registered voters are youth between ages 18 to 35, with age 36 to 49 making up 12.93%.  It is yet to be determined the number of persons in this demographic who will come out to vote in the elections.

The Candidates

The qualification to contest elections in Nigeria is outlined under the Constitution. To qualify to contest elections, a person must be a citizen of Nigeria by birth, have attained the age of thirty-five years; be a member of a political party and be sponsored by that political party; and be educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent. Of the 19 political parties in Nigeria,  17 fielded candidates for the elections along with running mates. 16 of the Governorship candidates are male with one candidate of the People Redemption Party (PRP) being female. 12 of the Governorship candidates are male and 5 female. The average age of the candidates is 47, with business being the predominant profession among candidates and the least educational qualification listed being a First School Leaving Certificate.

PartyPositionNameGender
AGovernorIYERE KENEDYM
Deputy GovernorENABULELE BRIGHTM
AAGovernorISEGHOHI TOMM
Deputy GovernorONAIWU MABEL OSEMWONYENMWENM
AACGovernorUDOH OBERAIFO DAVIDM
Deputy GovernorOSUNDE LORD OSASM
ADCGovernorIZEDONMWEN OSARENREN DEREKM
Deputy GovernorOSAGIE PHILIPM
ADPGovernorAKHIMIE KINGSONM
Deputy GovernorOBAZEE RAMATUF
APCGovernorOKPEBHOLO MONDAYM
Deputy GovernorIDAHOSA DENNIS M
APGAGovernorOSIFO ISAIAH  M
Deputy GovernorBELLO ANERUM
APMGovernorUGIAGBE ODARO SYLVESTER M
Deputy GovernorEZOMO TIMOTHY EDEM
APPGovernorARELOEGBEAMOS OSALUMESE               M
Deputy GovernorOYARENUA PAULF
BPGovernorOSIRIAME EDEIPOM
Deputy GovernorOMOROGBE KINGSLEYM
LPGovernorAKPATA OLUMIDE ANTHONYM
Deputy GovernorPRINCE YUSUF ASAMAH KADIRI, SANM
NNPPGovernorAZENA AZEMHE FRIDAYM
Deputy GovernorISOKPAN IHUEGHIANF
PDPGovernorIGHODALO ASUERINMEM
Deputy GovernorOGIE OSARODIONM
PRPGovernorKEY PATIENCE NDIDIF
Deputy GovernorOJO ABUOMWANDEM
SDPGovernorANERUA ABDULAI ALIUM
Deputy GovernorAMEDU PAULM
YPPGovernorOKUNGBOWA PAUL OVBOKHANM
Deputy GovernorMUSTAPHA AHMED TIJANIM
ZLPGovernorAKHALAMHE AMIEMENOGHENAM
Deputy GovernorIDUBOR JOYCE OLAMILAYOF

Their Promises (Manifesto)

In a recent survey report by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), participants made up of registered voters in Edo State stated fake promises, lies and lack of manifesto implementation as one of the reasons they are reluctant to participate in the electoral process. A candidate’s manifesto serves not only as a pledge to the electorate but also as a strategic framework for guiding their campaign. These manifestos outline the candidate’s commitment to addressing the voters’ most pressing concerns. 

Boot Party (BP)

The candidate of the Boot party promises, among other things, to provide affordable and constant electricity in the state to encourage productivity. His other promises include infrastructure development ( Transportation, Housing, Markets and Erosion Control), erudite education by providing school Infrastructure, free books and other learning materials, training and re-training of school teachers, introducing practical vocational classes for all primary and secondary students and adequate funding of State-owned tertiary Institutions, among others. He also stated he would support the creation of State police and provide modern gadgets to security agents to perform their job effectively; he also promised to pay attention to agricultural development, mining of the mineral resources in the State and providing affordable healthcare.

Labour Party – My Pact with the People of Edo State

In his manifesto titled ‘My Pact with the People of Edo State’, which was released on 23rd August 2024, the candidate of the Labour Party focuses on eight priority areas, which he states are a result of feedback and engagements with the citizens of the State. He plans on focusing on the economy and job creation, roads and related infrastructure, electricity and energy access, agriculture and food security, education, healthcare, security of lives and property, and other essential infrastructure.

Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) 

The candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) plans to prioritise education by focusing on skill-based education and plans to restore technical education and trade centres into the curriculum. In his manifesto, he promised to impact 15 major areas including education, crime prevention, youth development, housing, healthcare, corruption, job creation, climate change and prioritising children with special needs. 

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)- Pathway to Prosperity for All

With a Manifesto titled  ‘Pathway to Prosperity for All’, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under 5 broad categories, promises to improve the well-being of the people of the State through the creation of jobs, construction of roads, youth and women empowerment, quality education, potable water and affordable healthcare; he also stated that he would grow the economy by leveraging agriculture, culture and tourism, creative industry, mining, etc to create jobs.; he also plans to secure the state and provide law and order by supporting the police, adopting technology, restoring values, social stability, community trust and the rule of law. He also promised good governance through a motivated workforce, fiscal responsibility, accountability, and inclusive governance transparency. He promised to focus on the environment by handling erosion and flooding, championing reforestation and building resilient cities. 

All Progressives Congress (APC) – ‘Renewed Hope’ 

In his ‘Renewed Hope’ manifesto, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) sets out his agenda in five points, which include security, infrastructure development, education, agriculture, and water provision. He has promised to tackle the security challenges in the State and invest in agriculture, power, oil and gas, healthcare, agriculture, judicial reforms, transportation, and women’s empowerment.

Conclusion

Are these promises enough to convince citizens to vote for these candidates? Do campaign promises sway voters in Nigeria?  With campaigns ending and candidates heading to the polls on Saturday, are there reasonable grounds to believe that voters will be convinced based on the manifestoes of the voter? Gaskiya (2019) suggests that other indices outside the manifesto influence citizens to vote in an election, such as ethnicity, party affiliation, vote buying, and the candidate’s personality. Difficulty accessing candidates’ manifestos, even for research purposes, is also a major reason why manifestos are not crucial in Nigeria’s elections. Where they are available, most of the voting population cannot easily understand them.  Trust in candidates was the primary reason voters decided to vote in a report published by the CJID. If voters are to be influenced by the manifestos and promises outlined by the candidates in the election, then there will be a significant impact in voter decision-making.For instance, Boot Party’s focus on electricity and infrastructure could resonate with voters frustrated by the lack of stable energy and poor infrastructure, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas where these issues directly affect livelihoods. Labour Party’s broad engagement with citizens and promises across diverse sectors like education, job creation, healthcare, and security show a comprehensive approach, which may attract voters seeking an all-encompassing solution to the state’s challenges. Their emphasis on citizen feedback could also strengthen voter connection, making them feel heard and represented. Zenith Labour Party’s (ZLP) prioritization of skill-based education could gain support from younger voters and parents concerned about the current educational system’s ability to prepare students for the workforce. A promise to restore technical education also signals a practical approach that could boost economic empowerment. PDP’s emphasis on job creation, agriculture, and youth empowerment may appeal to unemployed and underemployed populations. Their focus on sectors like tourism and mining offers hope for economic diversification, and voters may see this as a viable long-term solution to the state’s economic challenges. The APC’s focus on security and infrastructure development aligns with critical issues in many states. Their promises to tackle security concerns head-on and their agenda for judicial reforms and women’s empowerment may appeal to those mainly concerned with law and order and gender inclusion. Each party’s promises are likely to sway voter opinions based on personal priorities, with issues such as job creation, security, and education being strong determinants of electoral outcomes. Furthermore, the accessibility of these manifestos and their alignment with voter needs will be crucial in shaping the final results.