A recent poll conducted by EBDA has shown that Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, is currently the leading contender in the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.
The poll, which was also audited and validated by BusinessDay, surveyed 1,179 registered voters residing in Edo State and found that 68 per cent of respondents would vote for Ighodalo if the election were held today.
This result places Ighodalo significantly ahead of his main competitors, with Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) securing 18 per cent of the potential vote and Labour Party's Olumide Akpata receiving 14 per cent.
The poll also examined voter intentions and demographics, revealing that 96.9 per cent of those surveyed had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), although only 73.1 per cent expressed willingness to vote. Those who were hesitant cited concerns such as transportation costs, security issues, and a belief that their votes might not count.
Interestingly, the poll highlighted a gender disparity among likely voters, with 68 per cent being male and 32 per cent female, despite the almost equal gender distribution in the INEC voter register.
Support for the zoning of political offices remains a divisive issue, with 61.2 per cent of respondents in favor of rotating power among different regions in Edo State, although this marks a decline from previous levels of support.
Managing director of EBDA, Sharon Orisakwe noted that voter turnout could be low on election day, based on previous election trends in Edo State, predicting a turnout of only around 20 per cent.
Top three issues respondents would want the next governor to address were rising cost of living, road infrastructure and insecurity.
The poll results provide critical insights into the voter landscape as the September 21 election approaches, but the outcome remains uncertain as voter sentiment could shift in the days leading up to the election.
This poll, employing proportionate, stratified random sampling, was conducted via randomised telephone interviews and has a margin of error of 3 per cent with a 95 per cent confidence level, ensuring its reliability through a rigorous test-retest process.
