The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last night declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of Saturday’s Edo State governorship election.
The returning officer, Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta, announced that the APC candidate garnered a total of 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) came third with 22,763 votes.
Kuta, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, said the APC won the highest number of votes in 11 out of the state’s 18 local government areas; while the PDP led in seven.
“That Okpebholo Monday of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected”, Kuta declared.
Of 2,249,780 eligible voters, 603,932 were accredited, 573,965 cast votes; while 13,275 votes were rejected.
The Edo State acting chairman of the APC, Jarrett Tenabe, declared the election as the freest in the state.
“APC is the party that cares for the people. We have the governor that will respect the people; the governor that will work for the good of Edo people,” he said.
