The Independent National Electoral Commission has issued certificates of return to the Edo State Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, and his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa.

The certificates were issued to them by the INEC?s National Commissioner in charge of Edo State, Rhoda Gumus, on Thursday, five days after Okpebholo and his deputy were declared the winner of the poll.

The Issuance of certificates of return has officially confirmed Okpebholo and Idahosa as the governor and deputy governor of Edo.

Okpebholo will succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki, who will leave Osadebe House on November 11 after completing two terms in office.

Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, was declared the winner of the tightly contested Edo governorship election on Sunday.

The Returning Officer for the election and the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. FaruqKuta, announced the result at the INEC collation centre in Benin City.

Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, winning 11 out of the 18 Local Government Areas in the state.

His closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, obtained 247,274 votes, winning seven LGAs.

Labour Party?s Olumide Akpata finished third with 22,761 votes. (The PUNCH)

?The winner of the Edo State Governorship election currently at INEC headquarters in Abuja to receive certificate of return at the commission.