President Tinubu says Edo state will get full federal support.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the Federal Government would support Edo State Governor-elect Monday Okpebholo to implement his developmental programs when his government takes off.

He urged Okpebholo to collaborate with other All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to achieve his goals.

President Tinubu congratulated Okpebholo and Deputy Governor-elect Dennis Idahosa during their visit to the State House, Aso Villa in Abuja to present their certificates of return to him.

The governor-elect and his deputy received the certificates in Abuja from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus.

Okpebholo was accompanied to the INEC headquarters by APC  National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillip Shuaibu, Campaign Director Senator Matthew Uroghide, General Cecil Esekhaigbe (retd), Senator Francis Alimikhena, Mr. Ogbeide Ihama, Omosede Igbinedion, and Blessing Agbonmhere.

Lauding the governor-elect, President Tinubu urged him to focus on the development of Edo on resumption.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu expressed confidence in Okpebholo’s ability to excel in his new role.

He emphasized the importance of good governance and delivering results to the people.

President Tinubu said: ‘’Governor-elect,  you can now face the task of development. We are here to work with you. You have seen the progressive governors of APC. They are truly progressive. Work with them. Learn the ropes, and I believe you are up to the task.”

Acknowledging the challenges of democracy, particularly in Nigeria, the President added: ‘’You have earned the victory. Democracy is difficult, particularly in emerging democracies and economies like ours.

‘’If you hear complaints from places like America, you know how difficult it is to navigate democracy. But it remains the best form of government. ‘’

The President described Okpebholo and his deputy Idahosa as a ‘’good symbol of people ordained  by God to work together.’’

‘He added: ‘You started as rivals and ended us as partners. You are a symbol of good understanding in politics; the man at our party’s helm has been through it before.

‘’In Kano, he was a front runner, became a second runner, and became a deputy before he eventually became a governor.”

President Tinubu acknowledged the role played by former Governor Oshiomhole, the progressive governors,, and the APC leadership in the successful outcome of the Edo poll.

He said: ‘’I saw Adams Oshiomhole radiating in joy. Sincerely, the governors showed up in Edo. They impressed me. They defended the party. They worked hard for the party.”

President Tinubu also commended INEC and the security agencies for ensuring a peaceful and organized election, with no reports of violence or disturbance.

He said: ‘’I must thank the security agencies. There was no bloodshed, no riot, people voted and went back to their houses in peace, and the fears dissipated instantly.”

The President urged the party leaders and members to remain united and focused on achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said: ‘’Never mind the noise makers. I do a lot of statistical sampling and results. When you hear politicians saying ‘all politics is local’, you must respect that notion.

‘’When you see the stability in the Edo North Senatorial District, we see a man that won the Central Senatorial District and a candidate who has won a seat in the south senatorial district; we did a match, which turned out to be a winning match.”

President Tinubu also commended the electorate for trooping out to cast their ballot, despite the heavy downpour “without using umbrellas”.

‘Ganduje commended the President, governors,, and other stakeholders for their support.

He said the party’s next focus is securing victories in Ondo and Anambra governorship polls.

‘’The election in Anambra is part of our programme;  Political de-marginalization of Southeast geo-political zone. Having only two states in the Southeast as APC is too small for us. We need more states from the Southeast geo-political zone.”

Oshiomhole called on losers in the governorship election to concede defeat and join forces with the Okpebholo in the task of development.

Oshiomhole, who spoke with reporters at the State House after the meeting, said in a genuine democracy, there are no losers, as everyone benefits when the elected leader delivers on their promises.

He said the item of Okpebholo’s campaign pledges, including employing teachers, rebuilding schools, and addressing insecurity, would improve the lives of the Edo people.

Recalling that in 2016 and 2020, Governor Godwin Obaseki won under the same electoral institution, he said only one person can emerge victorious and that does not mark the end of their political journey.

Okpebholo promised to transform Edo, adding that he would collaborate with the opposition, provided they have ideas beneficial to the state.

He said: “I’m coming as a servant to serve the Edo people. Very soon, you will see a lot of development coming up in Edo. We are going to employ teachers, and renovate our schools. A lot will be happening over time.”

When asked about working with the opposition, Okpebholo said:  “If they have a beautiful idea, that is acceptable by the people, then, why not? My door is open.

Okpebholo said his election as governor signaled a new dawn for the state.

He promised to run an open-door administration and urged those who lost to bear the loss.

Okpebholo said: “If I had lost, I would have to bear it and I would have by now congratulated the winner. So, I’m expecting them to congratulate me.,,”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, said he would win at the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal.

Ighodalo, who spoke on television, said the election that produced Okpebholo as governor-elect was not free and fair.

He explained that his legal team has identified over 150 polling units that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was not deployed.

Ighodalo said: “There is a lot of data, information, evidence that we have. We are fully confident that going through the tribunal, we will win the case.

“We will regain our mandate and we are clear without any doubt that we are the winners of the election of last Saturday,” he stated.

The PDP candidate accused the INEC and police of subverting the will of the people.

He maintained that Edo people voted for him and his party at the poll.

Ighodalo alleged that the APC rigged the election in collaboration with electoral officials.

 He said: “We didn’t rig. When APC and INEC saw that APC was losing woefully, they then subverted the electoral laws and the guidelines.

 “Collations are done at the polling units and then, you go to the ward and then, the local government collation center and then the state. There was a jump, from ward straight to the state.”

However, INEC has said that because of security concerns at the collation venues for two local government areas – Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha – the collation had to be taken to the INEC state secretariat, which it national commissioners in charge of voter education Sam Olumekun, described as an action backed by law.

The APC won in Oredo, the PDP won in Ikpoba-Okha.

The collation in the remaining 16 local government areas was done at the local government Collation Centres.