President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his congratulations to Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, following his victory in the Edo State governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Okpebholo the winner on Sunday after he emerged as the leading candidate, surpassing other competitors in the race.
The election, which took place on Saturday, saw 17 candidates vying for the governorship position. Voting occurred across 4,519 polling units spread throughout the 18 local government areas of Edo State.
The contest was closely watched as it determined the new occupant of the Dennis Osadebay House in Benin City, the state’s seat of power.
In a statement released by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended the efforts of the APC leadership at both the national and state levels.
He acknowledged the hard work of party leaders and governors, whose combined efforts played a crucial role in securing victory for their candidate.
Tinubu remarked that Senator Okpebholo’s success in the election reflects the strong support for the APC and its policies aimed at promoting progressive change in Nigeria.
He also noted that the election result serves as an endorsement of the government’s economic strategies and its focus on improving the lives of Nigerians.
The President also commended the people of Edo State for their conduct during the election, highlighting the maturity of Nigeria’s democracy after 25 years of civilian rule.
He further expressed appreciation to INEC and security agencies for their role in ensuring the election was peaceful and largely free of any disruptions.
“I commend the INEC and our security agencies for working round the clock to conduct a successful, peaceful and largely hitch-free exercise.
“INEC has once again demonstrated that it is committed to organising a free and fair election in our country”, Tinubu said.