After months of intense political activity in Edo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the hotly contested gubernatorial election held on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Okpebholo, 54, clinched victory with 291,667 votes, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) trailed in third place with 22,763 votes. Fourteen other candidates participated in the race, though none managed to pose a significant challenge to the three leading contenders.
At exactly 9:27 PM on Sunday, INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Faruk Kuta, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, declared Okpebholo the winner, sparking celebrations among APC supporters at the collation center in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
“Having satisfied the legal requirements, Monday Okpebholo of the APC is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” Kuta announced.
The APC candidate triumphed in over 10 of Edo’s 18 local government areas, with Ighodalo securing marginal victories in the remaining councils. The APC notably dominated two of the state’s three key senatorial districts.
See table showing the breakdown of votes by LGAs for the top three candidates:
| LGA | APC | LP | PDP |
| Igueben | 5907 | 494 | 8470 |
| Esan West | 12952 | 342 | 11004 |
| Owan West | 12277 | 201 | 11284 |
| Uhunmwonde | 8776 | 767 | 9339 |
| Ovia North East | 13225 | 1675 | 15311 |
| Esan South East | 8398 | 98 | 14199 |
| Egor | 16760 | 1966 | 14658 |
| Akoko Edo | 34847 | 2239 | 15865 |
| Esan Central | 10990 | 418 | 8618 |
| Esan North East | 10648 | 194 | 12522 |
| Ovia South West | 10150 | 849 | 10260 |
| Orhionmwon | 16059 | 556 | 14614 |
| Owan East | 19380 | 446 | 14189 |
| Etsako East | 20167 | 604 | 9683 |
| Etsako Central | 11906 | 381 | 8455 |
| Etsako West | 32107 | 2116 | 17483 |
| Oredo | 30780 | 5389 | 24938 |
| Ikpoba-Okha | 16338 | 4026 | 26382 |
| 291667 | 22763 | 247274 |
Okpebholo’s victory is partly attributed to his strong influence in Edo Central, where he serves as a senator. His alliance with fellow National Assembly member Adams Oshiomhole, a key figure from Edo North, further solidified his support base. Additionally, Okpebholo benefited from the backing of his running mate, federal lawmaker Dennis Idahosa, and estranged deputy governor Philip Shaibu, who distanced himself from outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki.
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This win brings Okpebholo a step closer to his ambition of leading Edo State, marking a potential return to power for the APC at the Dennis Osadebe Government House. The APC lost control of the state in 2020 when Obaseki defected to the PDP after internal disagreements with his predecessor, Oshiomhole.
Obaseki, whose tenure ends on November 12, 2024, had endorsed Ighodalo as his successor. Despite Obaseki’s vigorous campaigning for the PDP candidate, Oshiomhole’s presence proved pivotal in Okpebholo’s campaign, ultimately leading to APC’s triumph in the state.
