Ayobamiji Komolafe 
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Monday Okpebholo the winner of the 2024 Edo State governorship election.
Okpebholo was declared the winner after securing 291,667 votes across the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state in a keenly contested election.
New Telegraph reports that Okpebholo secured the victory l beating his close contender, Asue Ighodalo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who secured 247, 274 votes thus satisfying the constitutional requirements for the governorship seat.
INEC announced that Okpebholo did not only garnered the highest number of total votes but also won 11 out of the 18 Local Government Areas with Ighodalo claiming the remaining 7 Local Governments.
With these criteria met, Okpebholo was declared the winner of Saturday’s election, held on September 21, 2024.
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However, the Labour party’s (LP) candidate, Olumide Akpata came a distant third.
Following the announcement, Okpebholo will succeed the outgoing Governor, Godwin Obaseki of the PDP whose two-term tenure ends on November 12, 2024.
The Edo governorship election saw a total of 2,629,025 registered voters across the state’s 18 LGAs, with 2,249,780 voters (approximately 85.57 percent) holding Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
INEC reported that 4,519 polling units were set up for the election.
The Edo Governor-Elect, Monday Okpebholo, born on August 29, 1970, is a Nigerian businessman and politician who currently serves as the senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, a position he assumed in 2023.
Recalls that Okpebholo faced stiff competition in the Edo State governorship election from notable candidates, including Ighodalo and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party, along with 14 other contenders vying for the top spot.
His electoral victory in Edo strengthens his political standing within the APC and solidifies his role in shaping the future of the state.
The election comes at a critical time, as Edo is one of eight Nigerian states where governorship elections are held off-season due to previous litigations and court judgments.
These states include Anambra, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Osun, and Ondo.
The off-cycle election format was created to accommodate court rulings that extended or truncated the terms of previous governors.
Despite the relatively smooth conduct of the election, there were widespread concerns regarding voter turnout and reports of electoral malpractices.
Yiaga Africa, a leading election observer group, had earlier raised concerns over low voter participation, particularly among young people, and incidents of vote-buying in several LGAs.
Okpebholo’s victory sets the stage for a new chapter in Edo’s political landscape as he prepares to take office.
The task ahead for the incoming governor will be to unify a diverse state with various political and ethnic interests, while delivering on campaign promises and steering the state towards further development.
