Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared the winner of the Edo State governorship election. According to official results, Okpebholo secured a total of 291,667 votes, outpacing his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) finished third with 22,763 votes.
A quick rundown of the Edo elections
The Edo governorship elections took place yesterday, September 21, 2024. The people of Edo State voted to elect a new governor to succeed incumbent Godwin Obaseki, whose constitutional eight-year term ends on November 12, 2024. The elections saw a fierce competition among several candidates.
Meet the candidates
One of the notable candidates was Patience Key Ndidi under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). The election’s sole female contestant, she is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and humanitarian from Ekhekhen, Igueben Local Government Area, Edo State.
The winner, Senator Okpebholo, ran under the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagship. He hails from Udomi in Uwesan-Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area, and currently serves as a senator representing Edo Central senatorial district.
Olumide Akpata contested as the Labour Party’s (LP) flagbearer. He is the former national chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Edo South Senatorial district, Edo State. Akpata was a top executive at Templars Law Firm in Nigeria, serving as senior partner and head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group until August 31, 2023.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) representative Asue Ighodalo is from Okaigben, Ewohimi, in Esan South-East LGA, which is in Edo Central. The former chairman of Sterling Bank, he is a former economic adviser to Adams Oshiomhole, the former governor of Edo State, and the current Governor Obaseki.
New Edo governor promises to empower women and elevate the state
Prior to winning, Senator Okpebholo expressed his commitment to fostering gender equality, advocating for women’s rights, and supporting female entrepreneurs. During the party’s ward-to-ward campaign in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Okpebholo promised that women would get loans to boost their businesses. He said, ”.…Women will be given soft loans, and a 35% quota will be allocated to them in my cabinet.”
He stated that mechanised farming would be encouraged, 500 teachers would be employed in his first 100 days in office, and pipe-borne water would be provided for the citizens.
The new governor-elect will be sworn in on November 12, 2024, following the exit of the current Governor Obaseki on the same day.
