After months of intense politicking, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) finished third with 22,763 votes, while fourteen other candidates collectively received fewer votes than the top three.
INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Faruk Kuta, announced the results at the collation center in Benin City at 9:27 PM, eliciting cheers from APC supporters.
Kuta, also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, confirmed Okpebholo’s victory after several recesses in the announcement process.
This election marks a significant shift in Edo’s political landscape, as the APC lost power in 2020 when incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki defected from the party to the PDP amid internal conflicts.
Obaseki, who supported Ighodalo in this election, will complete his term on November 12, 2024. Former APC chairman Adams Oshiomhole played a crucial role in Okpebholo’s campaign, boosting the candidate’s visibility and support among party loyalists.
