By; RAPHAEL OKHIRIA, Benin
There is tension in Edo State over the declaration of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded Governorship Election in the State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The APC polled a total of 291,667 votes to defeat its closest rival, the PDP which scored 247,274. Asuelinmen Ighodalo was the candidate of the PDP.
Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Barr. Olumide Akpata, trailed far behind in the third position polling 22,763 votes and did not win any of the 18 local government areas of the state.
A breakdown of the results showed that the APC won in 11 local government areas, including Esan West, Owan West, Egor, Akoko-Edo, Esan Central, Orhionmwon, Owan East, Etsako Central, Etsako West, Etsako East amd Oredo local government areas respectively.
The PDP won the remaining seven local government areas. They are: Igueben, Uhunmwonde, Esan South East, Esan North East, Ovia North East, Ovia South West and Ikpoba Okha.
The state returning officer, Professor Faruq Adamu Kuta who is the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna in Niger State, declared the candidate of the APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo as winner of the election on Sunday night.
But as tension continue to rise in the state over the declaration of the APC candidate as winner of the election, Governor Godwin Obaseki, last made a passionate appeal to the people of the state to remain calm even in the face of provocation and resist resorting to acts of violence.
Obaseki, whose eight-year-tenure as governor of the state is winding off on November 12, 2024, however gave hints of possible legal contentions of the declaration by the INEC.
According to Obaseki, “the attractive thing about democracy is the power it bestows on the people to choose who governs them. Therefore, when this power is blatantly seized from the people, it is not just a tragedy, but a travesty of democracy.
“Regrettably, the outcome of the September 21st governorship election appears to have daunted the spirit of many Edo people who feel powerless in the face of the brute force of the institutions that are supposed to protect them. It is therefore understandable that many people feel sad and aggrieved.
“But in the midst of this despair, I am urging all my fellow Edo citizens to maintain calm and not resort to violence and destruction of property in spite of this provocation.
“Peace and justice will always win at the end and this is my prescription to all the good people of Edo State who feel vexed and violated at this time”, he posited.
