September 22, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the controversial September 21 Governorship election in Edo State.
The Returning Officer for the election and Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Prof Farouk Adamu Kuta, declared Okpebholo the duly elected governor on Sunday, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The PDP which claims with evidence that it won the election, alleges widespread fraud in the tabulation of results.
THEWILL reports that 18 political parties contested the gubernatorial election, which was held in 4,519 polling units across the 18 local governments of Edo State on Saturday.
According to the results, Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to beat his closest rival, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Asuerinme Ighodalo, who scored 247,274
Barr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), came a distant third with 22,763.
Results of the election as declared by the INEC Returning Officer for the Edo Governorship Election, Prof Kuta, are as follows:
IGUEBE LGA
APC- 5, 907
LP-494
PDP-8, 470
ESAN WEST LGA
APC- 12,952
LP- 342
PDP-11,004
OWAN-WEST LGA
APC- 12,277
LP 201
PDP 11, 284
UHUNMWONDE LGA
APC -8, 776
LP – 767
PDP – 9, 339
OVIA NORTH-EAST LGA
APC-13, 225
LP- 1, 675
PDP- 15,311
EGOR LGA
APC – 16,760
LP – 1,966
PDP – 14,658
ESAN SOUTH-EAST LGA
APC – 8, 398
LP – 98
PDP – 14, 199
EGOR LGA
APC – 16,760
LP – 1,966
PDP – 14,658
AKOKO-EDO LG
APC- 34, 847
LP- 2, 239
PDP- 15, 865
ESAN CENTRAL LGA
APC – 10,990
LP – 418
PDP – 8,618
ESAN NORTH-EAST LGA
APC – 10,648
LP – 194
PDP – 12,522
OVIA SOUTH-WEST LGA
APC – 10,150
LP – 849
PDP – 10,260
ORHIONMWON LGA
APC – 16,059
LP – 556
PDP – 14,614
OWAN-EAST
APC – 19,380
LP – 446
PDP – 14,189
ETSAKO EAST LGA
APC – 20,167
LP – 604
PDP – 9,683
ETSAKO CENTRAL LGA
APC – 11,906
LP – 381
PDP – 8,455
ETSAKO WEST LGA
APC – 32,107
LP – 2,116
PDP – 17,483
OREDO LGA
APC – 30,780
LP – 5,389
PDP – 24,938
IKPOBA-OKHA LGA
APC- 16, 338
LP-4026
PDP- 26,382
Born August 29, 1970, in Udomi-Uwesan, Irrua, Edo Central, Okpebholo, whose name also coincides with his Okpebholo ancestry, was popularly nicknamed Akpakomisa from childhood because of his survival of the tough times occasioned by the numerous water borne diseases at that time.
Currently the Senator representing Edo Central in the National Assembly, Okpebholo is a graduate of Business Administration.
