Julius OkorieSenate President Godswill Akpabio and several senators were and are still in a party mood following the victory of APC Governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, in the Edo Election conducted on Saturday.
In a viral video, Akpabio and the Senators were seen congratulating the Governor-elect, exchanging handshakes while saying “Ofonee” (meaning “it is over”) before singing a Christian song.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAlso in the video were Deputy Senate Whip, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, and Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo as winner of what has been dubbed three-horse race on Sunday night at about 9pm.
READ ALSO:#EdoDecides2024: INEC Declares APC’s Okpebholo Winner Of Governorship Election
In declaring Okpebholo as winner Sunday night Returning officer for the poll Prof Faruk Kuta said Okpebholo has satisfied the requirement of the law, he said: “That Okpebholo Monday of APC having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,”
Results collated from the 18 local Government Areas announced by INEC on Sunday show that Okpebholo secured a total of 291,667 votes. His closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), garnered 247,655 votes while Labour Party Candidate Olumide Akpata finished third with a total vote of 22,763. Subject to INEC official declaration, Okpebholo is well-positioned to become the next Governor of Edo State, taking over from incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP. The tenure of Governor Godwin Obaseki ends on November 11, 2024.
A further break down of the result indicates that APC cleared over 10 of the 18 local government areas, leaving the PDP candidate with marginal victory in the other local councils. The APC gained control in two of the three battleground senatorial districts in the state
There are however indications that PDP may head to court over the results declared. PDP in Edo had earlier appealed to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to review the results collated for the governorship election before the final announcement of the winner of the election, an appeal which fell on deaf ears with a bang.
Dr Anthony Aziegbemi, PDP Chairman in Edo told newsmen on Sunday in Benin that 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.
Okpebholo, the Edo Central Senator, leveraged significant influence in his senatorial district, and joined forces with his colleague in the National Assembly from Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, to defeat Ighodalo, the anointed candidate of the outgoing governor, Godwin Obaseki.
There were protests in parts of the state capital and outside the INEC collation centre, which was heavily guarded for the collation exercise.
Earlier in the day, Obaseki stormed the collation centre to protest the exclusion of PDP agents from the venue but was escorted out of the premises by armed security agents.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
