Okpebholo’s hard-won victory returns Edo State to APC fold

Senator Monday Okpebholo’s victory in Saturday’s election has swept the All Progressives Congress (APC) back to power in Edo State.

The APC held sway during the Adams Oshiomhole tenure.

The former Labour leader contributed to retaining the state for the party with Godwin Obaseki’s victory in 2016.

But Obaseki dumped the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and won his re-election in 2020.

The four-year PDP hiatus ended with Okpebholo’s victory last night announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Okpebholo won across the three senatorial districts, clinching 11 local governments of 18. PDP won the remaining seven.

The Labour Party, expected to be the third force, ended up as a flop.

Its candidate and a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Olumide Akpata could not win his polling unit in Benin.

 

The margin of victory is 44,393, making it a closely fought election.

Significantly, the APC defeated Obaseki in his home Oredo local government, scoring 30,780 votes to PDP’s 24,938.

Winning an election in Oredo – the centre of Benin City, the state capital – has been a difficult task for Obaseki since he came into Edo politics from his private sector background.

In both the 2020 and 2023 general elections, Obaseki failed to produce the House of Representatives lawmaker for the Oredo federal constituency.

He also failed to produce the Senator for Edo South senatorial district in both elections.

The APC’s total victory in five of the six LGAs in Edo North was key.

Both the APC and the PDP shared the votes in Edo Central where Okpebholo, who is the senator representing the district and the PDP candidate Asue Limen Ighodalo, come from.

The Returning Officer Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State, at 9:26 p.m. declared Okpebholo the winner.

Kuta said Okpebholo having scored the highest number of votes and satisfying all the conditions stipulated in the Electoral Act is elected.

APC’s collation agent, Jarret Tenebe, described the crucial election as the best-ever poll in Edo history.

Tenebe, who is also Edo Chairman of APC, called on the 17 other candidates of political parties that contested against Okpebholo to support the governor-elect.

PDP’s collation agent, Osaigbovo Iyoha, the Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki, disagreed with Tenebe, saying the election was fraudulent.

In the course of the presentation of results by the LGA returning officers, both Iyoha and Tenebe fired salvos at each other.

While Iyoha in instances where his party lost, verbally ridiculed the results, Tenebe offered a defence.

Tenebe earlier called for the suspension of the declaration of the final results, which was kicked against by Tenebe.

The victory, anticipated since Sunday night by APC supporters after INEC made available more than 98 per cent of the results from polling units to its votes viewing portal (I-REV), sent supporters into a frenzy.

Many drove in joy around the Benin streets.

Governors elected on the APC platform, senators, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio of the APC and party leaders, led by National Chairman Dr. Umar Ganduje stormed Benin in a celebration mood.

Tinubu: victory challenging call to service
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last night congratulated the Edo Governor-elect.

He said, according to a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga: “President Tinubu commends APC national leaders, Edo State leaders, and party governors for working hard to achieve victory.

“He says the victory testified to the people’s support for the ruling party, its progressive ideals, its economic reengineering programme and its commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians.

“He urges Senator Okpebholo not to gloat over his victory but to see it as a challenging call to service.

“He encourages him to demonstrate magnanimity by reaching out to his political rivals and uniting the people of Edo State to ensure its development.

“President Tinubu also praises other candidates who participated in the election for their contributions to advancing Nigeria’s democracy, saying peaceful political contests, such as the one on Saturday, portray Nigeria as a stable democracy.

“The President urges all those aggrieved by the election outcome to seek redress through the legal channels.

“In addition, the president commends the people of Edo State for their orderly and peaceful conduct during the election, underscoring the maturing of Nigeria’s democracy after 25 years.

“I commend the INEC and our security agencies for working round the clock to conduct a successful, peaceful and largely hitch-free exercise.

“INEC has once again demonstrated that it is committed to organising a free and fair election in our country”.

Buhari hails ‘historic win’
Former President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated the APC and Okpebholo.

In a statement by his Spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari described the win as “prized” and “historic,” offering his warmest wishes for a new lease of life for Edo State and its people.

The former President expressed hope that both the incoming administration and the opposition would work together to strengthen democracy and maintain the state’s development trajectory.

Buhari commended law enforcement agencies for ensuring a peaceful election and praised election officials for their efforts to improve the electoral process.

He also prayed for Nigeria’s continued progress under democracy, noting the country’s status as the continent’s most populous nation.

“Congratulations to the APC and the election winner, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on the historic electoral victory and my warmest wishes for a new lease of life for Edo State and its people.

“I very much hope the winners and the losers would work together to strengthen democracy and maintain the trajectory of development in the state.

“I commend law enforcement agencies for the efforts that they put in ensuring a peaceful election and the multitude of election officials who strive to improve their act with each election.

“I pray that Nigeria, the continent’s most populous country, will continue to achieve remarkable progress under democracy,” he said.

‘APC’s victory a vote of confidence in Tinubu’
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin hailed the victory of the APC, describing it as a vote of confidence in President Tinubu.

Barau, who is the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, said the people’s wish remained the most potent force in any democracy.

Barau, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, commended the umpire for upholding the people’s will as expressed by their votes.

He also applauded the visionary leadership of the national chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, which, according to him, has given the party more cohesion and ultimately led to the party’s victory in the election.

“The victory of our great party is well-deserved. I congratulate the governor-elect and all our supporters for this victory.

“It is not just a victory for the APC but for our democracy and the people of Edo State.

“This victory is a further expression of the confidence of the people of the state in the exemplary leadership and performance of President Tinubu since his assumption of office in May last year.

“It is also a result of the visionary leadership of our national chairman, Dr Ganduje, who has made the party more cohesive and paved the way for its victory in this election,” he said.

Senator Barau, while calling on the governor-elect to be magnanimous in victory, urged all those who contested the elections but lost to lend their support in moving Edo State forward.

“I, therefore, implore my friend, the governor-elect, Senator Okpebholo, to be magnanimous in victory and equally call on all others who contested against him but lost to lend their hands of support in moving Edo State forward,” he said.

Edo poll: PDP supporters protest at INEC office
PDP supporters staged a peaceful protest close to the INEC state headquarters.

The protest, which led to heavy vehicular traffic on the Benin-Abuja highway, happened shortly before the PDP warned of “severe consequences and legitimate physical confrontations’’ if the final results of the election did not reflect the wishes of the Edo electorate.

Some of the protesters sat on the road when security operatives prevented them from gaining access to the INEC premises.

Security around the office was beefed up.

APC: victory, an endorsement of Tinubu’s administration
The APC described the victory as an endorsement of the Tinubu Administration by the Edo electorate.

The assertion was contained in a congratulatory message by Abdullahi Ganduje, the party’s national chairman to the governor-elect.

“The triumph is a testament to the confidence the good people of Edo State have in the progressive vision and leadership of the President Tinubu-led APC administration,” Ganduje said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Edwin Olofu.

He asserted that the victory was not only well-deserved but reflected the trust and hope placed in the governor-elect by the Edo electorate.

Ganduje expressed confidence that with Okpebholo’s leadership, Edo would witness unprecedented growth, peace, and development.

He promised that the governor-elect would continue to uphold the values of good governance, transparency, and service to the people.

Ganduje also thanked President Tinubu and the Progressive Governors Forum for their support during the electioneering.

Akpabio, Shaibu, others celebrate
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and some Senators have welcomed the victory.

Akpabio, Senators Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Deputy Senate Whip), and Asuquo Ekpeyong were seen in a video shaking hands and shouting ‘Ofonee( it’s all over)’ with the governor-elect.

Edo State Deputy Philip Shaibu was also seen in the viral video.

Police commence show of force in Edo
Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police in charge of the poll, Frank Mba, last night activated a post-election security strategy of the Force.

The strategy includes a show of force, especially in Benin, the state capital. The goal is to reassure residents of Police readiness to respond appropriately to any possible threat to peace.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi reads: “In line with the post-election security strategy, the DIG has ordered enhanced deployment in and around INEC facilities, key stakeholders involved in the election and other critical infrastructure within the state.

“Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force calls on citizens to remain peaceful and law-abiding while going about their endeavours.

“The Force, however, warns against any conduct by any individual or group capable of disrupting the existing peace in the state, noting that the Force and the security forces are more prepared than ever before to ensure continuous peace in the state.”

The Nation

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