# 2020 Edo State gubernatorial election

The 2020 Edo State gubernatorial election occurred on 19 September 2020. Incumbent PDP Governor Godwin Obaseki won re-election for a second term, defeating APC Osagie Ize-Iyamu and several minor party candidates. Obaseki received 57.3% of the vote.
Godwin Obaseki emerged unopposed in the PDP gubernatorial primary after all the aspirants stepped down. He picked Philip Shaibu as his running mate.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu was the APC candidate with Audi Ganiyu as his running mate. Mabel Oboh was the ADC candidate. Iboi Lucky Emmanuel stood in for ADP in the polls, while Osifo Uhun-Ekpenma Isaiah represented LP. Fourteen candidates contested in the election, 12 were male, while 2 were female. Two of the deputy governorship candidates were female.

## Electoral system

The Governor of Edo State is elected using the plurality voting system.

## Primary election
### PDP primary

The PDP primary election was held on 25 June 2020. Godwin Obaseki, the incumbent governor emerged unopposed after all the aspirants stepped down for him.

### Candidates

* Party nominee: Godwin Obaseki: Incumbent governor.
* Running mate: Philip Shaibu.
* Kenneth Imasuagbon: Stepped down.
* Gideon Ikhine: Stepped down.
* Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama: Stepped down.

### APC primary

The APC primary election was held on 22 June 2020. Osagie Ize-Iyamu won the primary election polling 27,833 votes against 2 other candidates. His closest rival was Pius Odubu, a former deputy governor in the state who came a distant second with 3,776 votes, while Osaze Obazee, a former governor in the state came third with 2,000 votes.

### Candidates

* Party nominee: Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
* Running mate: Audu Ganiyu.
* Pius Odubu: Former deputy governor. Lost in the primary election.
* Osaze Obazee: Former governor. Lost in the primary election.

## Results

A total of 14 candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election. PDP Governor Godwin Obaseki won re-election for a second term, defeating APC Osagie Ize-Iyamu and several minor party candidates. Obaseki received 57.3% of the votes, while Ize-Iyamu received 41.6%.
The total number of registered voters in the state was 2,210,534 while 557,443 voters were accredited. Total number of votes cast was 550,242, while number of valid votes was 537,407. Rejected votes were 12,835.
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Godwin Obaseki | People's Democratic Party | 307,955 | 57.30 |
| | Osagie Ize-Iyamu | All Progressives Congress | 223,619 | 41.61 |
| | Ibio Lucky Emmanuel | Action Democratic Party | 2,374 | 0.44 |
| | Mabel Oboh | African Democratic Congress | 1,370 | 0.25 |
| | Stevie Nash Ozono | National Rescue Movement | 573 | 0.11 |
| | Felix Izekor Obayangbon | Social Democratic Party | 323 | 0.06 |
| | Osifo Uhun-Ekpenma Isaiah | Labour Party | 267 | 0.05 |
| | Agol Ebun Tracy | New Nigeria Peoples Party | 258 | 0.05 |
| | Lucky Osagie Idehen | All Progressives Grand Alliance | 177 | 0.03 |
| | Jones Osagiobare | Young Progressives Party | 132 | 0.02 |
| | Jones Osagiobare | Zenith Labour Party | 117 | 0.02 |
| | Edemakhiota Godwin Osaimiamia | Action Alliance | 107 | 0.02 |
| | Amos Osalumese Areloegbe | Action Peoples Party | 78 | 0.01 |
| | Igbineweka Osamuede | Allied Peoples Movement | 57 | 0.01 |
| Total | Total | Total | 537,407 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 537,407 | 97.67 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 12,835 | 2.33 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 550,242 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 2,272,058 | 24.22 |
| Source: INEC, INEC |||||

### By local government area

Here are the results of the election by local government area for the two major parties. The total valid votes of 537,407 represents the 14 political parties that participated in the election. Green represents LGAs won by Obaseki. Blue represents LGAs won by Ize-Iyamu.
| County | Godwin Obaseki PDP | Godwin Obaseki PDP | Osagie Ize-Iyamu APC | Osagie Ize-Iyamu APC | Total Votes |
| County | # | % | # | % | # |
| Igueben | 7,870 | 60.2% | 5,199 | 39.8% | 13,069 |
| Esan North-East | 13,579 | 67.4% | 6,556 | 32.6% | 20,135 |
| Esan Central | 10,794 | 61.6% | 6,719 | 38.4% | 17,513 |
| Ikpoba Okha | 41,030 | 69.3% | 18,218 | 30.7% | 59,248 |
| Uhunmwonde | 10,022 | 62.7% | 5,972 | 37.3% | 15,994 |
| Egor | 27,621 | 73% | 10,202 | 27% | 37,823 |
| Owan East | 14,762 | 43.3% | 19,295 | 56.7% | 34,057 |
| Owan West | 11,485 | 50.6% | 11,193 | 49.4% | 22,678 |
| Ovia North-East | 16,987 | 63.2% | 9,907 | 36.8% | 26,894 |
| Etsako West | 17,959 | 40.7% | 26,140 | 59.3% | 44,099 |
| Esan South-East | 10,563 | 53.3% | 9,237 | 46.7% | 19,800 |
| Oredo | 43,498 | 70.3% | 18,365 | 29.7% | 61,863 |
| Esan West | 17,434 | 70.8% | 7,189 | 29.2% | 24,623 |
| Akoko Edo | 20,101 | 46.7% | 22,963 | 53.3% | 43,064 |
| Etsako East | 10,668 | 38.6% | 17,011 | 61.5% | 27,679 |
| Etsako Central | 7,478 | 47.2% | 8,359 | 52.8% | 15,837 |
| Orhionmwon | 13,445 | 56.2% | 10,458 | 43.6% | 23,903 |
| Ovia South-West | 12,659 | 54.3% | 10,636 | 45.7% | 23,295 |
| Totals | 307,955 | 57.3% | 223,619 | 41.6% | 537,407 |