Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has hailed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, describing it as a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senator Barau, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, stated that the people’s voice remains the most potent force in any democracy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC the winner of last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, after he polled 291,667 votes. Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), came in second with 247,274 votes, while the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Olumide Akpata, garnered 22,763 votes to place third.
In a statement from his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Senator Barau commended INEC for upholding the people’s will as expressed through their votes.
He also praised the visionary leadership of the national chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, stating that it has given the party greater cohesion and ultimately led to its victory in the election.
ALSO READ: Edo guber: Gov Obaseki appeals for calm
“The victory of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State is well-deserved. I congratulate the governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and all our supporters for this victory. It is not just a victory for the APC but for our democracy and the people of Edo State.
“This victory further expresses the confidence of the people of the state in the exemplary leadership and performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since he assumed office in May last year.
“It is also a result of the visionary leadership of our national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who has made the party more cohesive and paved the way for its victory in this election,” he said.
Senator Barau, while calling on the governor-elect to be magnanimous in victory, urged all those who contested the elections but lost to lend their support in moving Edo State forward.
“I, therefore, implore my friend, the governor-elect, Senator Okpebholo, to be magnanimous in victory and equally call on all others who contested against him but lost to lend their support in moving Edo State forward,” he said.
