By Ozioruva Aliu, BENIN CITY

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, on Saturday, described voters turnout in the local government elections as encouraging.

Also, accredited election observers said voting had been peaceful and orderly across the state.

The governor spoke after casting his ballot at Ward 2, Udomi Primary School, in Esan Central Local Government Area, where voting commenced early with electoral officials and security personnel on ground.

The governor arrived at his polling unit at about 10:24 a.m. and joined other voters in the queue before exercising his civic responsibility at exactly 10:40 a.m.

He then spent several minutes interacting with stakeholders before speaking to journalists covering the election.

He commended voters for their orderly conduct and said reports reaching him from other parts of the State indicated that the election was progressing peacefully.

“This election is very peaceful and it is going smoothly based on the feedback we are getting from the field,” he said.

“The turnout is very high. This is a demonstration of grassroots democracy. It shows that our people are interested in choosing those who will administer the affairs of their local governments.

“By the grace of God, a winner will emerge at the end of today’s election.”

He urged residents to continue conducting themselves peacefully throughout the voting process and to await the official declaration of results by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, has criticised the reported decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election, warning that Christians will not support another Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Vatsa described the move as “a direct insult” to the Christian community, saying it was politically insensitive and could cost the ruling party Christian votes.

In a statement issued in Minna on Saturday, the former Niger State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism said the circumstances that justified the same-faith ticket in 2023 no longer existed.

“I think this is a grievous mistake by the APC. It is highly insensitive,” he said.

According to him, those behind the decision “did not mean well” for the President or the party.

“With the current situation in the country and the concerns over the safety of Christians, nobody expected the President to repeat this arrangement,” Vatsa said.

He argued that the APC would struggle to convince Christians to support its ticket in 2027, especially if other political parties field Christian candidates.

“What do you expect us to tell the Christian community, to vote for another Muslim-Muslim ticket?” he insisted.

Vatsa, who recently urged Niger State Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago to pick a Christian running mate for the 2027 governorship election, said Christians already feel insecure and would be more comfortable with a Christian vice-presidential candidate.

He warned that repeating the Muslim-Muslim ticket could have “grievous consequences” for the APC’s electoral chances.

The APC stalwart, however, clarified that his position was not against Vice President Shettima or the Muslim community.

“I have nothing against the Vice President or the Muslim community. I am speaking for equity, justice and fairness in the political arrangement of the country,” he added..

The Federal High Court in Gombe has reserved judgment in a lawsuit challenging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary that produced the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

The case was filed by PDP governorship aspirant Khamisu Mailantarki and is being heard by Justice Amina-Aliyu Mohammed.

After hearing arguments from lawyers representing both sides, the judge said the court would announce a date for the judgment later.

Speaking to journalists after the hearing, Mailantarki’s lawyer, Mustapha Ibrahim (SAN), said his client is challenging the legality of the primary, claiming the process was flawed because “a person who was not qualified to participate was allowed to contest.”

He said both the substantive suit and the defendants’ preliminary objections had been argued and were now awaiting judgment.

Ibrahim also dismissed concerns over the withdrawal of the second plaintiff, saying the case remains valid because Mailantarki is still pursuing the suit.

He urged the court to nullify the May 26 primary and order the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary involving only eligible aspirants.

According to him, Pantami “was not a registered member of the PDP at the time the primary election was held and should not have been allowed to take part.”

PDP lawyer Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) confirmed that the party has three pre-election cases before the court.

He said the Mailantarki case had been argued and judgment reserved, while another case was adjourned until July 23.

Ajibade added that a separate lawsuit filed by another governorship aspirant against the PDP and Pantami would come up the following day for the adoption of processes before a judgment date is fixed.

The court’s ruling will determine whether the PDP governorship primary in Gombe stands or whether the party must conduct a fresh primary ahead of the 2027 general election.