The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has awarded a certificate of return to Monday Okpebholo, the winner of the Edo State Governorship election, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC). The ceremony was held at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
INEC declared Okpebholo the victor of the election held on Saturday, September 21, after he secured 291,667 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata from the Labour Party (LP) finished a distant third with 22,763 votes. Fourteen other candidates also contested for the position but received fewer votes than the top three.
Okpebholo dominated in over ten of the 18 local government areas, while Ighodalo achieved marginal victories in the remaining councils. The APC also gained control of two out of the three contested senatorial districts in the state.