The outgoing Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has appealed to the people of the state to remain calm even in the face of provocation and resist resorting to acts of violence.
He made the appeal moments after the announcement of the results of the September 21, governorship election 2024 by INEC on Sunday, 22, 2024.
In his short speech, Obaseki, whose eight-year-tenure is winding off, gave hints of possible legal contentions of the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the keenly contested Saturday 21, 2024 governorship election in the South-South state.
Okpebholo, 54, secured 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 247,274 votes and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) who came a distant third in the race with 22,763 votes. Fourteen other candidates contested the seat but got less than the three frontline candidates.
“That Okpebholo Monday of APC having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” INEC’s Returning Officer for the poll, Prof Faruk Kuta, said at exactly 09:27 pm, to delightful cheers from APC supporters at the collation centre in Benin City, the state capital on Sunday.