The electoral umpire said the APC candidate secured 291,667 votes to defeat PDP’s Asue Ighodalo who got 247,274 votes and LP’s Olumide Akpata who scored 22,763 votes.
After months of campaigns and intrigues, voters in Edo State cast their ballots in the governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had cleared 17 parties for the September 21st election as candidates battle to take over the reins of leadership from incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki. His tenure ends in November.
Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Monday Okpebholo and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) are the major contenders for the battle.
The election took place in 4,519 polling units across the 18 local government areas of Edo State.
President Bola Tinubu hailed Monday Okpebholo on his victory. He urged the APC candidate “not to gloat over his victory but to see it as a challenging call to service”. Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, condemned the outcome of the Edo State governorship election.
Governor Godwin Obaseki called for calm. The governor, who said the election was marred with disregard processes and the rule of law, urged aggrieved persons to explore legal options to express their reactions. A PDP agent, Tony Iyoha, called for the suspension of the entire election in Edo State over alleged irregularities.