The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented Certificates of Return to the Edo State governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa.
The certificates were presented to the duo by INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Edo State, Rhoda Gumus, at the commission’s national headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, September 26, 2024.
INEC on Saturday, September 21, 2024, declared Mr Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Edo governorship election having secured 291,667 votes.
The governor-elect defeated his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had 247,274 votes and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) with 22,763 votes.
Speaking shortly to journalists after the event, Mr Okpebholo appreciated the people of Edo for giving him the mandate to serve.
He pledged to work for the people of the state.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the ruling APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, said that Mr Okpebholo had the experience and blueprint to develop the state.
“Edo State was an APC state. Later on, the governor as a nomadic politician, cross-carpeted to PDP, but today, we fought for it and we have recovered our state for the APC.
“I am so happy because essentially, our governor-elect, an experienced politician, a distinguished senator, has a blueprint for the development of Edo State and we assure you, you will see great changes,” Mr Ganduje said.
In his remarks, a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, said that the people of Edo were happy to have a governor who would not fight people and institutions but respect them.
“The important thing that I am happy about is that the Edo people now have a new governor who will not disrespect them.
“We now have a governor who will respect our traditional institutions, the heart of our culture. We now have a governor who will not be fighting about artefacts.
“We now have a governor who will not demolish a hospital and replace it with a museum. We now have a governor who understands the value of education and will not destroy a library and replace it with a market. For me, this is what excites Edo people,” Mr Oshiomhole said.
Other dignitaries at the event were members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu among others.
