Mary Onyia
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Sunday, declared Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner in the Edo State governorship election held on Saturday.
According to the results from 18 local government areas (LGAs), Okpebholo secured a total of 291,667 votes, closely followed by Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with a total of 247,655 votes, while Olumide Akpata of Labour Party, LP, came a distant third receiving a total of 22,763 votes.
Okpebholo reportedly won in 11 local government areas out of the 18 local government areas in the state, while Ighodalo won in the remaining ones.
Akpata of the Labour Party lost in all the local government areas including his own local council area, Oredo.
INEC discloses that Okpebholo secured wins in key local government areas including Esan West, Owan West, Akoko Edo, Egor, Esan Central, Ovia South West, Orhionmwon, Owan East, Etsako East, Oredo and Etsako West local government areas.
Meanwhile, amid allegations of vote buying and inflation, the PDP has vowed to contest the result even as Godwin Obaseki has appealed to the people to remain calm.