After months of intense campaigning, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the September 21, 2024, Edo governorship election. Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), who came third with 22,763 votes. The APC’s victory was sealed after Okpebholo cleared over 10 of the 18 local government areas, dominating two of the state’s three senatorial districts.
INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Faruk Kuta, made the official declaration on Sunday evening, confirming that Okpebholo met the legal requirements to be declared governor-elect of Edo State. This victory brings the APC closer to reclaiming power at the Dennis Osadebe Government House, marking a significant political shift in the South-South state.
The APC’s win is attributed to strong alliances, including Okpebholo’s partnership with Adams Oshiomhole and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa. The defeat of Ighodalo, the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki’s anointed candidate, marks a significant political loss for the PDP, as Obaseki had campaigned vigorously for him.
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 |
However, the election was not without controversy. Protests erupted as PDP supporters alleged that the election results were fabricated. The party’s agent, Tony Iyoha, and the PDP Governors’ Forum accused INEC of electoral malpractices and discrepancies between the announced figures and those on the IReV platform.
The Edo election, one of the off-season governorship races, witnessed a turnout of 2,249,780 registered voters with Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). Despite the allegations, Okpebholo’s victory has set the stage for a new political chapter in Edo State, with the APC poised to return to power after losing the state to the PDP in 2020.
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