#EdoDecides2024: Buhari hails APC’s victory
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress candidate in Saturday’s Edo State governorship election, on his victory at the polls.
Buhari conveyed his congratulations in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled ‘Muhammadu Buhari congratulates APC, Gov-elect Okpebholo on historic Edo win.’
This followed a declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday, which named Okpebholo as the winner, having scored the majority votes of 291,667 to defeat other contenders for the office.
At 09:27 pm (local time), INEC’s Returning Officer for the poll, Prof Faruk Kuta, announced, “That Okpebholo Monday of APC having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
His closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party garnered 247,274 votes while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party came a distant third with 22,761 votes.
Fourteen other candidates vied for the seat but scored far fewer votes than the three frontline candidates.
The former President described the outcome as a “prized, historic electoral victory,” saying he was very hopeful that both leaders of the incoming administration and the defeated parties would work together to strengthen democracy and maintain the trajectory of the state’s development.
Buhari said, “Congratulations to the APC and the election winner, Senator Monday Okpebholo on the historic electoral victory and my warmest wishes for a new lease of life for Edo State and its people.
“I very much hope the winners and the losers would work together to strengthen democracy and maintain the trajectory of development in the state.
“I commend law enforcement agencies for the efforts that they put in ensuring a peaceful election and the multitude of election officials who strive to improve their act with each election.
“I pray that Nigeria, the continent’s most populous country, will continue to achieve remarkable progress under democracy.”
