…Tinubu, Buhari, Akpabio hail victory, urge unity
…Youths protest as PDP, LP cry foul, alleging electoral fraud
… Okpebholo promises inclusive leadership
Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged winner of the Edo State governorship election with was declared the new governor of Edo State following a 44,393 margin win over PDP candidate.
In the hotly contested election, Okpebholo triumphed with 291,667 votes, edging out his closest rival, Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 247,274 votes.
Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), secured a distant third with 22,763 votes.
The announcement, made by Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, came at 9:26 p.m. on Sunday, September 22, marking the culmination of months of rigorous political campaigns.
Jarret Tenebe, the APC collation agent and Edo State APC Chairman, described the election as the best in Edo’s history. He praised the process, calling it a beacon of transparency.
“This election has set a new standard in the democratic history of Edo State,” Tenebe said. He urged all 17 other candidates to rally behind the governor-elect, stating, “Okpebholo will steer Edo into a brighter future, and it is time to unite for the common good of our people.”
However, not all parties shared Tenebe’s enthusiasm. Before the results were finalized, Osaigbovo Iyoha, the PDP’s collation agent and Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki, called for a suspension of the final declaration. He cited irregularities, a request Tenebe firmly rejected.
Tinubu, Buhari applaud victory, urge Unity
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was among the first to congratulate Senator Okpebholo.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu lauded the peaceful nature of the election and urged Okpebholo to see his victory as a “challenging call to service.”
He said, “This is not the time for gloating but for reaching out across party lines to unify Edo State.”
President Tinubu also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for conducting a “smooth and largely hitch-free exercise.”
He expressed confidence that the election demonstrated Nigeria’s maturing democracy, which has now spanned 25 years.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari echoed these sentiments, describing Okpebholo’s victory as “prized” and “historic.”
Buhari stated, “I hope both winners and losers will work together to strengthen democracy and continue the trajectory of development in Edo State.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was in Benin during the election, described the outcome as “a reflection of the people’s confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership.”
…PDP, LP allege electoral fraud
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, fiercely rejected the results, claiming widespread rigging. Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, who chaired the Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council for the PDP, accused INEC of violating the Electoral Act.
Fintiri claimed that PDP candidate Ighodalo was in the lead before the “APC hijacked the collation process.”
In a statement, the PDP said, “The results from polling units, as presented by our agents, clearly show that Dr. Asue Ighodalo won this election.”
PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba added, “INEC must be held accountable for the manipulation and fabrication of figures in favor of the APC. The will of the people has been undermined.”
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State also voiced his disappointment, urging citizens to remain calm but condemning the alleged electoral malpractice.
“Democracy gives power to the people, but when that power is stolen, it becomes a tragedy,” Obaseki said in a press statement.
He further assured the people of Edo that the PDP would seek justice, either through a recount or legal means.
In response, the Labour Party, through its Public Relations Officer Sam Uruopa, expressed concern over alleged vote-buying but stopped short of outrightly rejecting the results.
“We are still reviewing the data, and once that process is complete, we will issue a formal statement. However, we are disappointed by the level of voter inducement,” Uruopa remarked.
The PDP vowed to challenge the outcome in court if necessary. A letter sent by Edo PDP Chairman Tony Aziegbemi to INEC, titled “Protest against manufactured vote entries and unjust inflation of APC votes,” detailed the party’s allegations.
The letter highlighted supposed discrepancies in the results from Akoko Edo, Egor, and Etsako West Local Government Areas, accusing INEC officials of manipulating figures to favor the APC.
Aziegbemi called for a “re-collation and re-computation” of the results, stressing that the current figures do not reflect the genuine votes cast at polling units. “We will not rest until the true will of the Edo people is respected,” Aziegbemi said.
…Youths protest results
In the wake of the results, some youths associated with the PDP staged a peaceful protest at the INEC office in Benin City, alleging that the election had been rigged.
Security forces, however, prevented the demonstrators from reaching the office, restricting them to Ramat Park in the Ikpoba Hill area.
Despite the tension, Governor Obaseki urged Edo citizens to maintain calm and avoid violence.
“Peace and justice will always prevail in the end,” Obaseki stated, adding, “We must not let our frustrations turn into violence that will destroy the very foundations of our democracy.”
…Okpebholo promises inclusive leadership
Speaking after his victory was declared, Governor-elect Okpebholo assured Edo people of his commitment to inclusive leadership. “I will work for every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation,” he said.
Okpebholo promised to replicate in Edo State the success model of Akwa Ibom under former Governor Godswill Akpabio, noting that his focus would be on infrastructure, education, and job creation.
He also thanked his predecessor, Governor Obaseki, for his service to the state and extended an olive branch to his opponents, stating, “The election is over; now is the time to come together and build Edo.”
As celebrations began among APC supporters, Okpebholo’s words seemed to resonate, even as legal battles appeared inevitable in the days to come.
