By BAMIDELE DUROJAIYE
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo winner of the governorship election in Edo State.
Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who scored 247,274 votes to come second, while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party garnered 22,763 votes to come third.
INEC’s Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Minna, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta declared Okpebholo winner of the election having polled the majority of votes and satisfied the requirements of the law.
The election held on Saturday across Edo State was largely peaceful with impressive turnouts in some areas.
The APC’s governorship candidate won 11 out of the 18 local governments in the state, while the PDP won seven local governments.
In Igueben LGA, Ighodalo won with 8,470 votes, defeating Okpebholo, who scored 5,907 votes. Akpata trailed with 494 votes.
In Uhunmwonde LGA, Ighodalo garnered 9,339 votes to edge out Okpebholo, who received 8,776 votes, while Akpata polled 769 votes.
In Ovia North East LGA, Ighodalo expanded his lead with 15,311 votes, surpassing Okpebholo’s 13,225 votes. Akpata trailed with 1,675 votes.
In Esan South East LGA, Ighodalo secured a commanding victory with 14,199 votes, defeating Okpebholo, who polled 8,398 votes.
However, Okpebholo dominated Akoko Edo LGA, securing 34,847 votes to defeat Ighodalo, who garnered 15,865 votes. Akpata finished with 2,239 votes.
In Owan West LGA, Okpebholo maintained his lead with 12,277 votes, edging out Ighodalo, who received 11,284 votes.
In Esan West LGA, the APC candidate claimed victory with 12,952 votes, while Ighodalo followed closely with 11,004 votes. Akpata garnered 342 votes.
Okpebholo also won in Egor LGA, polling 16,760 votes, while Ighodalo came second with 14,658 votes. Akpata trailed with 1,966 votes.
In Esan Central LGA, the APC candidate emerged victorious with 10,990 votes, while Ighodalo polled 8,618 votes. Akpata garnered 418 votes.
Ighodalo managed to win Esan North East LGA with 12,522 votes, defeating Okpebholo, who scored 10,648 votes, while Akpata obtained 194 votes.
In Ovia South West LGA, Ighodalo narrowly won with 10,260 votes, just ahead of the APC candidate, who polled 10,150 votes. Akpata received 849 votes.
Okpebholo took Orhionmwon LGA, polling 16,059 votes to beat Ighodalo, who garnered 14,614 votes, and Akpata, who received 556 votes.
The APC candidate secured a significant victory in Owan East LGA, where he polled 19,380 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who scored 14,189 votes. Akpata managed 446 votes.
In Etsako East LGA, Okpebholo won with 20,167 votes, while Ighodalo scored 9,683 votes, and Akpata polled 604 votes.
Okpebholo further solidified his lead in Etsako Central LGA, where he garnered 11,906 votes, compared to Ighodalo’s 8,455 votes. Akpata trailed with 381 votes.
Okpebholo secured his second-largest win in Etsako West LGA, where he polled 32,107 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who garnered 17,483 votes, while Akpata trailed with 2,116 votes.
The APC’s candidate also won in Governor Godwin Obaseki’s Oredo Local Government. He polled 30,780 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who garnered 24,938 votes. Labour Party’s Akpata finished third with 5,389 votes.
In Ikpoba-Okha, Ighodalo won with 26,382 votes to defeat the APC’s candidate who scored 16,338 votes, while Akpata polled 4,026 votes to come third.