The All Progressives Congress (APC) won all 18 chairmanship seats and 192 councillorship seats in the Edo State local government elections [1].
The complete sweep of local governance in the state grants the APC total control over grassroots administration. This consolidation of power occurs amid sharp disputes over the legitimacy of the electoral process.
The elections took place on July 11, 2024 [2]. Following the announcement of the results, winners were scheduled to receive their certificates of return on Monday [1].
While the APC celebrates the victory, the Conference of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) challenged the outcome. The group said the results were not an expression of the will of the people and described the figures as manufactured [2].
According to reports, the APC secured every single available chairmanship position, totaling 18 [1]. The party also captured 192 councillorship positions across the state's local government areas [1].
Opposition members have raised concerns regarding the transparency of the vote counting. The CRPP said the figures do not reflect the actual voting patterns seen at the polls [2].
“The APC won all 18 chairmanship seats and 192 councillorship seats”
A total sweep of local government seats by a single party is rare in competitive electoral environments. When combined with allegations from a coalition of registered political parties that the figures were manufactured, the result suggests a significant crisis of confidence in the local electoral machinery of Edo State, potentially leading to legal challenges or civil unrest.
