There was low voters turnout in the by-election held yesterday in the three local government areas that made up Estako Federal Constituency.
The three local governments where elections held are Estako-East, Estako-West and Estako-Central.
Six political parties are participating in the election but only candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Comrade Jude Imagwe and candidate of the All Progressive Congressn(APC), Hon Johnson Oghuma, were contestant in the race.
A total of 252,110 registered voters in Estako Federal Constituency were expected to participate in the election.
The Estako seat in the House of Representatives became vacant after Hon Philip Shaibu emerged Deputy Governor of Edo State.
At some polling units like in Fugar and Ogbonna in Estako-East, there was heavy turn-out of voters.
There was no restriction of movement within the local government areas where the elections were held even though security was tight.
A former governorship aspirant in Edo State, Hon Blessing Agbomhere, who voted at Fugar hailed INEC for peaceful conduct of the elections.
There was larger turnout of voters in Fugar.
State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, who voted at Obarekpe Primary School at Ogbonna, expressed reservation for the inability of the card reader to accept his details.
Orbih urged INEC to go back to the drawing board on the capability of the card readers.
There was no report of violence in the election across the three local government areas but there were minor cases of failure of card reader and cases where forms were used as alternatives.
At Ward 2, units one to six, Obe Primary School, Fugar in Etsako Central council area, the APC candidate Oghuma voted at about 8:15 am while the PDP candidate, Jude Imagwe cast his vote at about 10:57am at Ward one, unit 9 located at Osime Primary School, Agenebode in Etsako East council area of the state respectively.
Former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, urged INEC to conduct future elections the same way Estako by-election was conducted.
He said, “It is very peaceful. I am hoping that as we go forward, Nigeria elections will be like this. It is not about literacy and illiteracy. You see farmers, young and energetic people. It is my dream that this is how our elections should be so that when you pass through this process and you realise that you own your office at the mercy of the people, you have a choice. Fulfill your promises and get renewal or cheat on the people and you can only cheat once. Next time they will vote you out. That power of the electorate is shown on Election Day. It makes all men equal. I hope that it goes on like this,” he said.