Oshiomhole, Shaibu Deliver LG For APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has emerged victorious in Etsako West Local Government Area, securing 32,107 votes against his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 17,483 votes.

The win is significant as Etsako West is the home turf of former Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and reinstated Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, who recently returned to the APC after a prolonged political struggle with his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Obaseki had anointed Ighodalo as his preferred candidate ahead of Shaibu.

In the wake of the election, the PDP has rejected the results from Etsako West. Osaigbovo Iyoha, the party’s agent for the election, alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) manipulated the results in favour of the APC.

“When you look at the figure declared, it is just manufacturing of results,” Iyoha asserted, claiming that the collation process was abruptly halted, allowing for potential manipulation.

“The result is not a true reflection of what happened in Etsako West; we rejected the result,” he added.

In response, acting APC chairman Jarret Tenabe dismissed the allegations, stating that the results accurately reflect the electoral outcome.

“If you throw away what belongs to you, other people will take it. The Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, was removed from office, and he joined us, and that was the result of what happened,” Tenabe emphasized.