Edo election: How Okpebholo overcame Ighodalo with 44,012 vote margin

At exactly 9:28 PM yesterday, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the 2024 Edo State governorship election, igniting celebrations across the state.

Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 247,655 votes. This victory marked a decisive margin of 44,012 votes in what has been described as Edo’s most competitive governorship election to date. The Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, finished third with 22,763 votes.

Expressing his joy, Okpebholo told the people of Edo that they had chosen the best candidate for the role and assured them to expect significant progress under his leadership.

His victory occurred amid criticisms from Governor Godwin Obaseki, the PDP Campaign Council, PDP governors, and civil society organizations, who raised concerns about issues that arose during the collation process and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address them.

After his declaration as the winner, Senator Okpebholo vowed to focus on the development of Edo State, proclaiming, “Edo is rising. I am here to transform Edo State the way it should be. I will continue from where Adams Oshiomhole left off. By the grace of God, Edo will stand firm.”

To clinch the victory, Okpebholo won 11 of the 18 local councils. He dominated in Edo North, which is represented by Senator Oshiomhole, but narrowly lost in Edo Central and Edo South to Ighodalo, who hails from Edo Central.

In Edo North, Okpebholo received 130,684 votes against the PDP’s 76,959 and the LP’s 5,987. In Edo Central, the vote count was APC (48,895), PDP (54,813), and LP (1,546). In Edo South, the tally showed Okpebholo with 112,088 votes, Ighodalo with 115,502, and Akpata with 15,230.

The 11 local government areas that Okpebholo won include Orhionmwon, which is Governor Obaseki’s stronghold, as well as Etsako West, Etsako East, Akofo Edo, Owan East, Owan West, Etsako Central, Esan West, Esan North-East, Esan Central, Egor, and Oredo. Meanwhile, Ighodalo won in seven local government areas: Esan North-East, Esan South-East, Igueben, Ovia North-East, Ovia South-West, Uhunwonde, and Ikpoba-Okha.