President Muhammadu Buhari Sunday congratulated incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for his victory at Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Edo State; admonishing him to be magnanimous in victory.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President also commended the people of Edo State, the political parties, the candidates and security agencies for discharging themselves honorably.
“My commitment to free and fair elections is firm, because without free and fair elections, the foundation of our political and moral authority will be weak,” Buhari said adding: “I have consistently advocated for free and fair elections in the country because it is the bedrock of true democratic order. Democracy will mean nothing if the votes of the people don’t count or if their mandate is fraudulently tampered with.”
Meanwhile, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, congratulated Obaseki on his reelection, describing his victory as the end of “god-fatherism” in Nigeria politics. Atiku in a statement on Sunday said that the election marked a new dawn in Edo, saying Obaseki’s victory was a declaration of independence from anti-democratic forces of despotism, nepotism and interlopers.
Despite the low turnout and voter apathy, vote-buying and card reader malfunction and sporadic violence that cost at least one death, the doomsday prediction, which many feared would undermine the process, judging from the tense atmosphere and rancorous campaign, did not come to pass as voting was relatively peaceful in a majority of the 18 LGAs.
There was wild jubilation in the Edo state capital, Benin City, and other major cities as people took to the streets, singing and dancing in celebration of Obaseki’s victory. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Obaseki polled 307, 955 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu-Iyamu who scored 223, 619 votes. Obaseki won 13 of the 18 LGAs with an unassailable margin of 84,336 over Ize-Iyamu, who won five LGAs. Below are the results by LGA:
LGA
APC
PDP
Akoko Edo
22,963
20,101
Egor
10,202
27,621
Igueben
5,199
7,870
Ikpoba Okha
18,218
41,030
Esan Northeast
6,556
13,579
Esan West
7,189
17,434
Esan Central
6,719
10,694
Esan South-East
9,237,
10,563
Etsako West
26,140
17,959
Etsako East
17,011
10,668
Etsako Central
8,358
7,478
Oredo
18,365
43,498
Orhionmwon
10,458
13,445
Ovia Northeast
9,907
16,987
Ovia Southwest
10,636
12,659
Owan East
19,295
14,762
Owan West
11,193
11,485
Uhunmwonde
5,972
10,022
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