Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has emerged victorious in the Edo State governorship election held on Saturday.
According to the final results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, Okpebholo secured a total of 291,667 votes, surpassing his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,655 votes. With these results, Okpebholo is expected to be officially declared the winner of the election.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised concerns about the accuracy of the results. The party has appealed to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, requesting a review of the results before the final announcement. The Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, alleged that the election figures had been manipulated in favor of the APC, claiming that votes for the PDP had been deducted during the collation process.
As the election controversy unfolds, the PDP’s call for a review adds tension to what has been a closely watched contest. INEC has yet to respond to the appeal, and all eyes are on the electoral commission as the official declaration of the election results looms.
If the results stand, Monday Okpebholo will take the helm as the next governor of Edo State, bringing an end to the highly anticipated electoral race.
