A recent survey by EBDA has indicated that Asue Ighodalo, the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, is currently leading the pack in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
The poll, which received validation from BusinessDay, included responses from 1,179 registered voters in Edo State. The findings revealed that if the election were held today, a notable 68 percent of participants would cast their votes for Ighodalo.
This positions Ighodalo well ahead of his closest rivals: Monday Okpebholo from the All Progressives Congress (APC) garnered 18 percent of the potential votes, while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party received 14 percent.
The survey also delved into voter preferences and demographics, indicating that 96.9 percent of respondents had obtained their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs); however, only 73.1 percent expressed a commitment to vote. Some expressed reluctance due to concerns over transportation costs, security, and the feeling that their votes might not make a difference.
Interestingly, there was a noticeable gender imbalance among likely voters, with 68 percent male and 32 percent female, despite a nearly equal gender representation in the INEC voter register.
The topic of zoning political offices continues to stir debate, with 61.2 percent of those surveyed supporting the idea of rotating power among different regions of Edo State, although this support has diminished compared to previous surveys.
Sharon Orisakwe, Managing Director of EBDA, commented on the potential for low voter turnout on Election Day, predicting that only about 20 percent of registered voters may participate, based on historical trends in Edo State.
When asked about the pressing issues for the next governor, respondents highlighted the rising cost of living, deteriorating road infrastructure, and insecurity as their top three priorities.
Conducted through proportionate, stratified random sampling and utilizing randomized telephone interviews, this poll has a margin of error of 3 percent and a confidence level of 95 percent, underscoring its reliability after a meticulous test-retest process.
