The Returning Officer for the September 21 Edo State governorship election, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) in Minna, Niger State, announced Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the highly contested election at 9:26 p.m. on Sunday, September 22.
Senator Okpebholo, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, secured 291,667 votes, defeating Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 247,274 votes. The Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), finished third with 22,763 votes.
APC’s collation agent, Jarret Tenebe, praised the election as the best in Edo’s history, expressing confidence that Okpebholo’s grassroots political experience would lead the state to a brighter future. He called on the 17 other candidates who participated in the election to unite behind the governor-elect for the betterment of Edo.
However, prior to the announcement of the final results, PDP’s collation agent, Osaigbovo Iyoha, who serves as Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki, requested a suspension of the results declaration. This request was strongly opposed by Tenebe, emphasizing the transparency of the electoral process.
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