Shaibu congratulates Edo governor-elect, Okpebholo

The court reinstated the Deputy Governor of Edo Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has congratulated the Governor-elect in the state, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for last Saturday’s election, on his election victory, describing it as ‘decisive’.

Shaibu, however, advised Senator Okpebholo to be magnanimous in victory and reach out to other candidates in the election in order to foster inclusive government in the state.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday in Benin declared Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the keenly contested September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election in the state after scoring 291, 667 votes.

Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo and Labour Party, Barr. Olumide Akpata, pulled 247,274 and 22,763 votes respectively to occupy the 2nd and 3rd positions in the election.

Shaibu In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Comrade Ebomhiana Musa, advised that the acrimonies leading to the election should end with the announcement of the results by INEC.

He specifically called on Governor Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, and all other candidates to set aside political differences and unite behind the Governor-elect in order to advance the interests of the state.

Shaibu emphasized that working together across party lines would benefit the state and its people more.

In his words: “We have all fought a very good fight on the political turf, and in the process, may have offended one another.

“However, these were mistakes of the head, not of the heart, in the contest for power and position. Now that the election is over, we must unite and support the winner for a better and more prosperous Edo State.”

Shaibu also commended INEC for conducting what he described as successful election, noting that it was one of the best off-season polls in the country in recent times.

He acknowledged the police and other security agencies for their coordinated efforts towards ensuring maximum security before, during, and after the election, debunking predictions of violence and bloodshed.

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