By Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, the governor of Ekiti State, has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress on his victory in the recently held Edo State governorship election.
In the September 21 governorship election results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday evening, Okpebholo received 291,667 votes to defeat his nearest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who received 247,274 votes.
In a statement released in Ado Ekiti on Monday, Oyebanji’s Special Advisor on Media, Yinka Oyebode, praised the people of Edo for their confidence in the APC and its Renewed Hope Agenda, as well as for rewarding the party with Okpebholo’s victory.
The governor, who stated that the Edo people have spoken through the ballot, congratulated President Bola Tinubu for deepening democracy in the country.
He said, “The victory is a vote of confidence in the leadership of President Bola Tinubu who has deepened our democracy. It is the victory of our party APC and indeed a victory for democracy.
“It is a new day in Edo State and I congratulate the people of the state for returning the state to the progressive fold,” Oyebanji said.
The governor commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for ensuring that the people’s votes count, stressing that “democracy is taking a firm root in the country, with the electorate being able to reward political parties and candidates, appropriately with their votes”.
He called on the governor-elect and the deputy governor-elect, Dennis Idahosa, to be magnanimous in victory and extend hands of fellowship to their opponents in the election.
Oyebanji also urged the governor-elect to see his election as a call to serve, urging him to implement people-oriented programmes and policies that would bring progress and prosperity to the people.
“The Edo people have spoken clearly and loudly. Hearty congratulations to my brother, the governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa.”
