#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, Governor-elect Okpebholo on historic Edo win.’

This followed the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday, which named Okpebholo as the winner, having secured a majority of 291,667 votes to defeat other contenders for the office.

At 9:27 pm (local time), INEC’s Returning Officer for the poll, Prof Faruk Kuta, announced, “That Okpebholo Monday of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and 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 contested the seat but received far fewer votes than the three leading candidates.

The former President described the outcome as a “prized, historic electoral victory,” expressing hope that both the incoming administration’s leaders and the defeated parties would work together to strengthen democracy and sustain the state’s development trajectory.

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 sincerely hope that both the winners and the losers will work together to strengthen democracy and maintain the development trajectory in the state.

“I commend the law enforcement agencies for their efforts in ensuring a peaceful election, and the multitude of election officials who strive to improve with each election.

“I pray that Nigeria, the continent’s most populous country, will continue to achieve remarkable progress under democracy.”