According to the voter register released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the number of would-be voters is 1, 925, 105.
In the 2012 governorship election, only 444,000 voted.
Edo State has 18 local governments with 2,627 polling units. To make voting easier, INEC broke down the poling units to 4011 points across the 192 wards.
The candidates are Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party, Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Adviser Shedrack Nowamagbe of the United Progressive Party and Osaro Onaiwu of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
The hate speech and violence that characterised the campaigns heightened tension that has made it difficult to predict a clear winner for the election. However, the two major contenders are Pastor Ize-Iyamu and Godwin Obaseki.
In an interview, Obaseki said he would be shocked if he did not win in all the 18 local government areas. This, he said, is because of the rigorous campaigns he embarked upon right from when he was seeking the party’s nomination.
The PDP is expecting victory in 15 local government areas. Onaiwu said he would win in local government areas where Igbo are mainly residents. He expects victory in 12 local governments. Nowamagbe said he would win in all the local government areas.
Permutations of the local government showed the APC may win in 10 local governments. The PDP is projected to win in three local governments. Five are undecided.
The local government areas that determine victory in any election are Orhionmwon, Oredo, Estako West, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha. Any political party that secures a wide margin in these local governments is sure of victory. During the 1983 contest between the late Prof. Ambrose Alli and Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, Orhionmwon vote gave Ogbemudia victory.
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