The people of Edo State will today come out in their multitude to make a choice, through voting, of who will govern the state for another four years.
All appears to be set and the anxiety is palpable.
Although 14 political parties are featuring in the battle for the seat of power, the contest is however between two political parties – the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
While the incumbent governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who changed party at the tail end of his first term in office represents the PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is the APC candidate in the election.
All indications are to the effect that it is going to be a fight to the finish between the two candidates.
Before the D-Day, all machineries have been deployed by the two contestants and their parties to ensure that they got as many voters as possible.
Uncertainty appears to have beclouded the situation as to who will carry the day. Political pundits find it difficult to give a clear prediction.
It is obvious, however, that a winner will emerge at the end of the day.
In view of the charged atmosphere and the clear indication that there might be violence, security agencies in the country have deployed personnel to ensure a peaceful exercise.
For example, the police said it deployed three policemen per unit in the 2,627 polling booths in the 192 wards that make up the entire Edo State.
It also said it would enforce the withdrawal of police orderlies from all VIPs during the election.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, also deployed 13,311 personnel for the exercise while the Federal Roads Safety Corps deployed 1,500 personnel and 35 of its vehicles.
The two leading candidates have been made to sign an agreement to ensure that there is peace during and after the election.
The exercise was conducted by the former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee.
Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II had earlier appealed to the politicians to ensure that the election is free of violence.
President Muhammadu Buhari has also appealed for a peaceful election, saying that the do-or-die mentality of politicians was detrimental to democracy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it was set for the Edo election and had assured of a hitch-free exercise.
It warned against vote-buying or any act that could lead to the disruption of the process of election
