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. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) finished in third place with 22,763 votes.
The announcement was made by INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Faruk Kuta, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna. He declared Okpebholo as the duly elected governor, having satisfied the legal requirements. Okpebholo’s victory sees the APC returning to power in Edo State after four years, following the party’s loss to the PDP in the 2020 elections.
Okpebholo’s win was largely secured through his dominance in 10 of the 18 local government areas (LGAs), particularly in Edo North and Central senatorial districts. The APC candidate benefited from a strong alliance with former governor Adams Oshiomhole and running mate Dennis Idahosa, which helped him consolidate support in key regions. Despite a strong challenge from Ighodalo, the PDP candidate could not overcome Okpebholo’s influence and voter support in the battleground LGAs.
The election was marred by protests and allegations of irregularities, with PDP supporters claiming that the results were manipulated. Governor Godwin Obaseki, who campaigned heavily for Ighodalo, raised concerns about the exclusion of PDP agents from the collation center. He was escorted out by security personnel after a tense standoff at the collation center in Benin City.
INEC faced calls from PDP officials and supporters to review the results, citing discrepancies between the figures recorded on the IReV platform and the final tallies announced. Despite these allegations, INEC stood by the results, stating that the process adhered to legal standards.
Observers, including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, reported instances of vote buying in several polling units, with voters being induced with cash and food items. The group expressed concern about the level of voter inducement, despite the presence of security personnel at the polling stations.
Monday Okpebholo’s victory marks a significant moment for the APC, as the party returns to power in Edo State. His win was built on strong alliances and a strategic campaign that capitalized on the divisions within the PDP. As Okpebholo prepares to assume office on November 12, 2024, the stage is set for his leadership to steer the state through its next phase of development, while his opponents continue to challenge the outcome of the election.
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