Okpebholo Declared Winner in Edo Governorship Election Amid PDP Allegations
Benin City, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Edo State governorship election held on September 21, 2024.
Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes. Labour Party candidate Olumide Akpata came in third with 22,763 votes.
Okpebholo won in 11 out of 18 local government areas, while Ighodalo won in the remaining seven.
PDP has expressed dissatisfaction with the results, accusing APC and INEC of electoral manipulations. Governor Godwin Obaseki had earlier described the election as a “do-or-die” affair, while Ighodalo called it potentially the worst in Nigeria’s history due to alleged irregularities.
Despite the controversy, INEC declared Okpebholo victorious, securing major wins in Esan West, Egor, and Oredo LGAs.