(File photo) Godwin Obaseki, APC governorship candidate at a rally

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Candidate of the‎ All Progressives Congress (APC), in the Edo state gubernatorial election, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has been declared winner of the ‎September 28 gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Nineteen political parties contested in the governorship election which was initially scheduled to hold on September 10, but had to be shifted to September 28 over security concern as advised by security agencies.

INEC’s Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Kayode Soremekun, (Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Oye Ekiti), who declared Obaseki winner of the election, said the APC flag bearer polled a total of 319,483 to beat his closest rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 253,173 votes.

He disclosed that out of the 1,900,223 total voters registered across the state, ‎622,069 were accredited for the election, out of which 613,244 voted.

‎Mr. Obaseki won in 13 local government areas of the state, while Pastor Ize-Iyamu won in five.

The results for the two leading parties from the 18 local government areas as announced by the INEC are as follows:

Edo North: Akoko Edo – APC: 24,545; PDP: 13,027; Etsako East – APC: 18,078; PDP: 12,552; Etsako West – APC: 29,199; PDP: 10,843; Etsako Central – APC:10,373; PDP: 8,827; Owan West – APC: 12,862; PDP: 10,132; Owan East – APC: 12,862; PDP: 10,132.

Edo Central: Esan West – APC: 13,114; PDP: 16,311; Esan Central – APC: 9,781; PDP: 10,180 and Esan North-East – APC: 9,130; PDP: 16,220; Igueben – APC: 7,802; PDP: 7,560; Esan South-West – APC: 9,554; PDP: 11,466.

Edo South: Ovia North-East – APC: 17,561; PDP: 13,149; Ovia Soouth-West – APC: 12,820; PDP: 8,810; Ikpoba-Okha – APC: 33,469; PDP: 26,096; Oredo – APC: 37,612; PDP: 30,492; Egor – APC: 26,177; PDP: 19,514; Uhumwode – APC: 10,911; PDP: 8,667 and Orhiomwon – APC: 15,260; PDP: 16,446.

Pronouncing the APC candidate, Mr. Goodwin Obaseki, as winner of the gubernatorial election, Professor Soremekun said: “I hereby declared that, Mr. Godwin Obaseki of the APC, haven satisfied the requirement of the law by scoring the highest number of votes, is hereby declared winner of the election and is returned elected.”