After a fierce battle for the governorship race in Edo State, the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC), finally revealed the winner of the election which was held on Saturday, September 21.
After hours of drama and suspense, the electoral umpire declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the Edo State governorship election.
Indeed, the off-cycle election had 17 candidates contest for the exalted seat at the Dennis Osadebay House in Benin City, Edo State.
The election was widely contested by Okpebholo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).
These three political figures stood as the major contenders during the electoral process.
Edo State Governorship Election
The governorship election held in 18 local government areas of Edo State with 4,519 polling units available for voters.
APC’s candidate, Okpebholo was the anointed candidate of the former governor and lawmaker representing Edo North senatorial district, Adams Oshiomhole who was notably active during the election.
Okpebholo won in Esan West, Owan West, Egor, Akoko-Edo, Esan Central, Orhionmwon, Etsako East, Etsako Central, Etsako West, Oredo Local Government Areas.
The APC candidate secured a total of 291,667 votes.
Also Read: Edo 2024: Election Observers Express Concern Over Transparency
His closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), garnered 247,655 votes.
Olumide Akpata, representing the Labour Party (LP), finished third, receiving a total of 22,763 votes.
PDP Calls For Review Of Results
However, the PDP in Edo seems uncomfortable with the outcome of the election.
As we speak, the party had appealed to the Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, to review the results collated from polling units before the final announcement of the winner of the election.
To the PDP Chairman in Edo, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi, the entries the electoral officers made were totally different from the actual results uploaded on the INEC IREV at the polling units.
Aziegbemi noted that the results had allegedly been inflated in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) through deducted votes from the PDP.
