By DAPO FALADE
Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has defeated his defeated his closest rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to emerge as the winner of the Edo State governorship election, held on Saturday.
As announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, Obaseki polled 307, 955 votes to defeat Ize-Iyamu who scored 223, 619 votes.
Announcing the result, the Returning Officer, Professor Akpofure Rem-Rukeh, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun declared Obaseki the winner having won the election.
The total number of votes cast in the election held in the 18 local government areas of the state were 550, 242; 12, 835 votes were voided, with the PDP winning in 13 local government areas, while APC won in the remaining five local councils.
In his appreciation speech, the re-elected Governor Obaseki thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for defending democracy and allowing the INEC and the security agencies to do their work without interference, saying this gave room for the conduct of a credible election.
He said, with the vote cast, the people of Edo State have spoken with a loud and clear voice, adding that the collective will of the people made it possible for him and his deputy to triumph over godfatherism.
“The great people of Edo State have spoken, and they spoke loud and clear. I thank President Muhammadu Buhari for defending our democracy, for allowing INEC, the security agencies to conduct credible election and doing their work without interference.
“With the collective will of Edo State people, they made it possible for us to triumph over godfatherism. There is nothing that can’t be achieved as a people, if we put forces together,” he said.
The re-elected governor also assured the people of Edo State that he and his deputy, Philip Shuaibu, are committed to making the state great.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of Edo State Governorship campaign Council who is also the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, said God used Obaseki to put an end to godfatherism in Edo politics, adding “that there is nothing like godfatherism in Edo State politics again. God used Obaseki to fight for the interest of Edo people.”
The Rivers State governor also thanked allow you those who worked with him in the PDP governorship campaign council and thanked the people of Edo State for the support given to his campaign team, noting “all your effort is not in vain.”
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