BREAKING: INEC declares APC’s Monday Okpebholo as winner of Edo guber election

After months of intense political maneuvering, Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared the winner of the Edo State governorship election held on Saturday, September 21, 2024, News360 Nigeria reports.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Okpebholo’s victory late on Sunday.

Okpebholo, 54, secured 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes.

Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, finished third with 22,761 votes, while fourteen other candidates received significantly fewer votes.

Prof. Faruk Kuta, the Returning Officer and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, declared, “That Okpebholo Monday of APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” at exactly 09:27 pm in Benin City to the cheers of APC supporters.

The APC candidate dominated in over 10 of the 18 local government areas, while the PDP managed narrow victories in the remaining councils.

The APC also secured control in two of the state’s three senatorial districts.

Okpebholo’s win was bolstered by strong backing from influential political figures, including Adams Oshiomhole, his National Assembly colleague from Edo North, and his running mate, federal lawmaker Dennis Idahosa.

The alliance also included Obaseki’s estranged deputy, Philip Shaibu, which further consolidated Okpebholo’s support base.

The victory marks the APC’s return to power at the Dennis Osadebe Government House, following a four-year hiatus after the defection of the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki, to the PDP in 2020.

Obaseki’s fallout with Oshiomhole led him to switch parties and secure a second term under the PDP, which will end on November 12, 2024.

With Okpebholo now poised to assume office, the APC has successfully reclaimed its foothold in Edo State politics.