Edo Decides: ‘Words Fail Me’, Obaseki Speaks As INEC Declares Him Winner

Johnson Alalibo, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State has named the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) Godwin Obaseki as the winner of the September 19 Governorship election in the state. Obaseki defeated his closest challenger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu with a total of 307,955 votes.

Reacting to the development via his official Twitter handle on Sunday, Obaseki asserted that “the collective will of Edo people made it possible for us this triumph over godfatherism”.

Words fail me in saluting our teeming supporters who displayed immense courage in the face of threats, intimidation and brutalization. The collective will of Edo people made it possible for us this triumph over godfatherism. Congratulations to all Edo people.

 “Godwin Obaseki of the PDP, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner,” Alalibo announced on Sunday afternoon.

Obaseki polled 307,955 votes to defeat his main rival, Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC, who had 223,619 votes.

He as well triumphed in 13 of the 18 local government areas and thus scored more than 25 per cent of votes cast in two-thirds of the local governments in the state to satisfy the second constitutional requirement to be declared governor.

He is expected to be presented with his certificate of return by INEC soon.