Bukola Saraki, ex-senate president, has asked voters in Edo state to protect their votes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun collating results of the Edo state governorship election which was held on Saturday.
The electoral process as observed by TheCable journalists on the field has been plagued by vote buying, violence and voter inducement.
Commenting on the exercise, Saraki cautioned INEC and security officials against thwarting the process, asking them to place the country’s glory above the ego of any politician.
Saraki said: ”The on-going #EdoDecides2020 is getting to the crucial stages. I urge the good people of Edo State not to get carried away but to protect their votes.
“The enthusiasm and patriotic conduct of the good people of Edo State must not be thwarted or subverted by any @inecnigeria official, either permanent or ad-hoc; or any security personnel, no matter the rank.
“Nigeria’s glory is more important than the huge ego of politicians. And so @inecnigeria and security officials must work to protect Nigeria’s image and not to satisfy the whims and caprices of some power hungry politicians.”
Godwin Obaseki, incumbent governor of the state who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are the two major contenders for the number one seat in the state.