Just In: INEC Declares APC’s Okpebholo Winner Of Edo Governorship Election
By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election in Edo State.
Okpebholo 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.
He was declared winner by the INEC’s returning officer and vice chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, in Niger State, Prof. Faruk Kuta.
Prof. Kuta said, “That Okpebholo Monday of APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
Okpebholo, who has served as the senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District since 2023, cleared over 10 of the 18 local government areas.
Although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement earlier claimed that following the results garnered by its polling agents across the state, its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, clearly won the election.
The party, therefore, cautioned the APC and INEC not to announce or declare any result that does not reflect the will of the people as expressed at the polling units, as such would be a recipe for a huge crisis in the state as the people of Edo State will never allow their mandate in illegitimate hands.
PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said, “Our Party again cautions INEC not to lose sight of the violent protest that trailed the criminal attempt by the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Ari, to alter the outcome of the 2023 governorship election in that state, which nearly led to the death of some INEC officials.
“Any attempt to change the results of the Edo State governorship election and allocate victory to a defeated candidate will provoke worse consequences.
“INEC must therefore do that which is right in the interest of peace, stability, and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria,” it said.
