The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun releasing results from polling units in the ongoing Edo State governorship election.

As vote counting concludes at many polling stations, the results are being announced in the presence of party agents, observers, and the electorate.

Among the leading candidates in the race are Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Olumide Akpata representing the Labour Party (LP).

With keen competition between these major contenders, the early results from various polling units reflect a dynamic and competitive race.

In Oredo Local Government Area (LGA), at polling unit 11 in Ward 06, the PDP secured 41 votes, APC had 19, and LP garnered 32 votes.

Meanwhile, in Etsako West LGA, Ward 3 Unit 21 reported 30 votes for PDP, 28 for APC, 11 for LP, and 1 for NNPP.

Additional results from PU05, Ward 02 GRA/Etete in Oredo LGA revealed a strong performance for PDP with 58 votes, compared to APC’s 15 and LP’s 12 votes.

In Oredo Ward 1, Unit 18 saw PDP dominate with 104 votes, APC trailed with 25, and LP received 23.

Similar results were observed in Unit 19 where PDP collected 46 votes, APC had 8, and LP got 10. In Unit 20, PDP achieved another significant lead with 105 votes, while APC earned 38, and LP had 10 votes.

Elsewhere, in Ogbe Ward 01 PU62, also in Oredo LGA, PDP led with 19 votes, APC had 13, and LP received 2 votes.

Further results from Ward 11, Unit 14 in Etsako West LGA showed APC leading with 157 votes, PDP garnered 35, ADP scored 2, and LP had 7 votes.

The competition remained fierce in other parts of Edo State.

In Ovia North-East, polling units at Okada Primary School saw mixed results, with PU1 reporting a tie between PDP and APC with 51 votes each, and LP securing 4 votes.

In PU2, PDP had 57 votes, APC followed with 36, and LP received 2. At PU3, PDP earned 45 votes, APC had 25, and LP 1.

Etsako West’s Ward 11 PU13 saw APC take a commanding lead with 136 votes, while PDP followed with 34, and LP with 4.

At PU1 in Uwessan 1, Esan Central LGA, APC received a substantial 102 votes, while PDP and LP each got just 1 vote.

Polling unit 14 in Idumodin, Igbanke West Ward 12, Orhionmwon LGA showed PDP receiving 95 votes, narrowly ahead of APC with 84 votes, while LP had 5.

At another polling unit in the same LGA, APC gathered 67 votes, while PDP had 35, and LP 2.

In the urban centre of Egor LGA, at PU4, Egor Secondary School, PDP took the lead with 32 votes, followed by APC with 21, and LP with 5 votes.

Other notable results include PU7 at Agbor/Ogbokpa Primary School in Esan South-East LGA where APC led with 131 votes, followed by PDP with 78.

As results continue to trickle in from across the state, it remains clear that the Edo governorship election is highly competitive, with the three major parties—PDP, APC, and LP—each vying for control of the state’s political landscape.

The outcome will depend on how the remaining votes are counted in the coming hours, with INEC set to announce more results as they become available.