Reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu has reacted to the electoral victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo in the September 21st off-cycle governorship election held in the state.
Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC was declared the winner of the fiercely contested governorship election, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared that the APC candidate scored 291,667 votes while Ighodalo polled 247,274 votes.
Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) came a distant third with 22,761 votes.
Taking to his official X handle, Shaibu, who fell out with his boss, Governor Obaseki before the election, said he celebrates “the triumph of democracy in Nigeria, particularly in Edo State.”
He also commended the Edo people for their resilience, patience, and their active participation in the elections.
According to him, “Your voices were heard through your votes for Senator Monday Okpebholo and Hon. Dennis Idahosa of the All Progressives Congress. I say a big congratulations to the newly elected governor, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“This victory solidifies the power of the people, affirming the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Thank you, Edo State, and congratulations to the APC family.”
Politics Nigeria recalls that Shaibu officially defected to the APC in July this year.
He was formally a member of the APC until 2020 when he defected to the PDP with Governor Obaseki.
The deputy governor was impeached by the state House of Assembly on April 8, 2024, over allegations of gross misconduct and disclosure of government secrets before he was reinstated in July by a Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified his removal from office.
The Appeal Court in August this year also affirmed him as the deputy governor of the state.
