Governor Godwin Obaseki of the People’s Democratic has won the September 19, governorship election in Edo state.
Obaseki polled 307,955 votes to defeat his closet rival Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress who scored 223,619 votes.
The PDP won in 14 of 18 local government areas in Edo.
It also took Ize-Iyamu’s home local government area of Orhionmwon by a margin of 2,287 votes.
APC clinched four local government areas.
Here is how the areas stand, according to results released by INEC.
Obaseki has given a victory speech, livestreamed on Periscope.
Governor Godswin Obaseki Gives Victory Speech https://t.co/FICWXwo7Oe
— Godwin Obaseki (GGO) (@GovernorObaseki) September 20, 2020
In Benin City, hundreds of residents thronged streets in celebration.
Some converged on Ramat Park, a famous green zone named in honour of late Gen Murtala Muhammad.
It is located in Ikpoba Okha, where Obaseki beat Ize-Iyamu by 41,030 to 18,218.
Announcing the results, the State returning officer, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, said Governor Obaseki of the APC scored 307,955 while Ize-lyamu of the APC pulled 223,619 votes.
“I, Akpofure Rim-rukeh, hereby certified that I am the Returning Officer for Edo State governorship election.
“That Godwin Obaseki, having satisfied the requirement of the law in meeting the 25 percent of the two third majority votes of the local government areas of the state and having the margin of lead higher than cancelled votes is hereby declared winner and returned elected,” he declared
Meanwhile, governor Obaseki defeated Ize-Iyamu in 13 out of the 18 local governments of the state .
The re-elected governor won in Igueben, Esan Central , Esan North-East, Ikpoba-Okha, Uhunmwonde, Egor, Owan West, Esan South-East, Ovia North-East, Oredo, Esan West, Ovia South-West including Orhionmwon Local Government Areas, where his main opponent comes from.
While Ize-Iyamu won in Owan East, Etsako West, Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central and Etsako East.
Reacting to the outcome of the election, member, representing Oredo Federal Constuency at the House of Representatives, Ogbeide Ihama commended the INEC for a job well done.
He said this singular act would boost the confidence of Nigerians that elections can still count in the country.