Monday Okpebholo has been sworn in as the Executive Governor of Edo State, following his victory at the poll in September 2024.
He was sworn in on Tuesday by the Chief Justice of the state, Daniel Okungbowa, alongside his deputy, Dennis Idahosa at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
Okpebholo took over from Godwin Obaseki, who has completed his second term in office.
He was declared winner of the Edo State gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) returning officer and vice chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, in Niger State, Prof. Faruk Kuta.
Okpebholo, who contested the election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rivals Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 247,274, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), who polled 22,761 votes respectively.
Okpebholo, who has served as the senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District since 2023, cleared over 10 of the 18 local government areas.
He took the oath of office in the presence of the vice president Kashim Shettima, Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the former deputy governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, and other APC governors.
