Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared the winner of the Edo State governorship election.
The election, held on Saturday, saw Okpebholo win a total of 291,667 votes.
His closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured 247,274 votes.
Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party came third with 22,761 votes, while 14 other candidates got fewer votes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the result late on Sunday.
The announcement was made by Prof. Faruk Kuta, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and the Returning Officer for the election.
At exactly 09:27 pm in Benin City, Kuta declared, “That Okpebholo Monday of APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
APC supporters cheered loudly as the victory was announced.
Okpebholo, 54, dominated in more than 10 of the 18 local government areas (LGAs) of Edo State.
The PDP managed to win in the remaining local government areas but did not secure enough votes to overcome the APC.
APC also won two of the state’s three senatorial districts, further strengthening Okpebholo’s victory.
Political analysts say that Okpebholo’s win was aided by strong political backing.
Key supporters of Okpebholo included Adams Oshiomhole, a former Edo State governor and APC leader.
Oshiomhole is also Okpebholo’s colleague from Edo North in the National Assembly.
Another major supporter was Dennis Idahosa, Okpebholo’s running mate and a federal lawmaker.
In addition, Philip Shaibu, the estranged deputy governor of Edo State, also backed Okpebholo.
Shaibu’s support was significant because he used to be aligned with the current governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Obaseki had defected from the APC to the PDP in 2020 following a fallout with Oshiomhole.
His defection allowed him to secure a second term as governor under the PDP.
However, the APC’s victory in this election marks their return to power in Edo State after a four-year gap.
Okpebholo is now set to take over from Obaseki when his term ends on November 12, 2024.
This election is seen as a major shift in Edo State politics, with the APC reclaiming its influence in the state.
Speaking to journalists after the results were announced, Okpebholo expressed gratitude to the people of Edo State.
He promised to serve all Edo citizens, regardless of political affiliations, and work towards uniting the state.
“I am deeply humbled by this victory and the trust the people have placed in me. I promise to serve everyone equally and to work hard to ensure progress and development in our state,” Okpebholo said.
However, not everyone is happy with the result of the election.
The PDP has expressed concerns over the election process and is calling for a review of the results.
Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, the PDP Chairman in Edo State, claimed that the figures announced by INEC were not accurate.
He alleged that the results had been inflated in favor of the APC and that votes had been deducted from the PDP.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Aziegbemi called on INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to review the election results.
“The entries made by the electoral officers are completely different from what was uploaded on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) at the polling units,” Aziegbemi claimed.
He urged INEC to investigate these discrepancies before making the final declaration.
The PDP’s concerns come amidst rising tensions in the state, as some party supporters believe they were unfairly treated during the election.
INEC, however, has maintained that the election was conducted fairly and transparently.
They praised the conduct of the electoral officials and stated that any complaints should be addressed through legal channels.
Observers and political analysts are closely watching how the PDP’s challenge will unfold.
INEC is expected to respond to the PDP’s request in the coming days, and a legal challenge may be filed.
The election had witnessed a high voter turnout, with many Edo citizens eager to participate in shaping the future of their state.
The conduct of the election was largely peaceful, although there were reports of isolated incidents of violence in some areas.
Security agencies were on high alert throughout the election period to prevent any unrest.
