By SOONEST NATHANIEL

Governor Godwin Obaseki has said that the outcome of the election in Edo State is a reflection of the will of the Edo People.

Reacting to his re-election at the polls which held Saturday, September 19, Mr Obaseki said “The great people of Edo State have spoken and they have spoken loud and clear”.

Obaseki in his victory speech from the PDP situation room in Edo State, thanked God almighty for making him triumph over his opponents.

He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for defending the nation’s democracy and “allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security services to perform their constitutional functions without interference”.

According to Obaseki, INEC and the security services have shown Nigerians and the world that they are capable of conducting free and credible elections.

He saluted the teeming supporters who he said displayed courage in the face of threats. stressing that the collective will of the Edo people made it possible.

“I am eternally grateful to my party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and my brother governors, not only for giving us the umbrella but for the hard work which has brought me back to the office.

“Our success has been reinforced by the belief that there is nothing that we cannot achieve as a people if we collectively work together and call on God.

“In conclusion, I reiterate to all of you today that working with my deputy, Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, we are committed to making Edo great again.

“Thank you all and thank you for your support”.

A keenly contested poll

Mr Obaseki the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to win a second term as governor of Edo State.

Obaseki was returned elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after polling the highest number of votes in the keenly-contested poll conducted on Saturday.

INEC Returning Officer for the poll, Professor Akpofure Rem-Rukeh, declared the governor as the winner on Sunday at the office of the electoral umpire in Benin City, which doubled as the final collation centre.

The governor secured 307,955 of the total votes, 84,336 more votes than his closest rival Ize-Iyamu, who got 223, 619 votes.

A total of 14 political parties fielded candidates to jostle for the office of the governor in the state.

It is the first governorship poll to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) since the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

While it held in some places in line with the COVID-19 protocols of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the compliance level was very low in other polling areas.

The announcement by the returning officer follows the collation of the results from all the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo where the election was conducted.

Governor Obaseki’s victory comes on the back of a tensed and heated electioneering process that saw him dump the APC after being disqualified from the primaries, join the PDP and overcome stiff opposition and criticism by members of his former party, including former ally and his predecessor Adams Oshiomhole.

It was a dramatic process that saw Obaseki run a governorship race against Ize-Iyamu for a second time in four years.

Both men faced each other in 2016, albeit with Obasek flying the flag of the APC and Ize-Iyamu flying that of the PDP.

A political rift between the governor and Oshiomhole which spiraled beyond the state to national politics, saw both men switch parties and square up against each other on platforms they once criticised.

The campaign, characterised by drama and controversy that did not spare the State House of Assembly, was tempered by the intervention of the Oba of Benin to calm fears that the poll could turn violence heightened.

A peace accord was also signed by all the candidates days before the poll as stakeholders made concerted efforts to ensure a successful poll.

Preliminary reports from some electoral observers have held that it was mostly peaceful and largely free and fair. (Channels TV)

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