President Bola Tinubu has extended his congratulations to Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his victory in the Edo State governorship election held on Saturday. Okpebholo, aged 54, secured 291,667 votes, defeating his closest competitors, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), who finished a distant third with 22,763 votes. Fourteen other candidates contested the election but received less support than the leading three candidates.
In a statement released on Sunday by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu urged Okpebholo to approach his victory with humility and see it as a significant call to public service. He emphasized the importance of not gloating over the win and encouraged the newly elected governor to extend an olive branch to his political opponents to unite the people of Edo State for its continued growth and development.
The President commended the contributions of all the candidates who participated in the election, acknowledging their roles in promoting and deepening Nigeria’s democratic processes. Tinubu remarked that the peaceful conduct of the election reflected the country’s maturity as a stable democracy.
Furthermore, President Tinubu advised any aggrieved parties to seek redress through the appropriate legal channels. He also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the nation’s security agencies for their diligent efforts in ensuring a smooth, peaceful, and largely trouble-free electoral process.
“INEC has once again demonstrated its commitment to organizing free and fair elections in our country,” President Tinubu stated, reinforcing his belief in the strength of Nigeria’s electoral institutions and their role in safeguarding democracy.
