Oshiomhole Declares Obaseki ‘Politically Dead’ After APC Victory in Edo Gubernatorial Electio

Former Governor of Edo State and current Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, has declared that the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki is “politically dead” following the outcome of the recent gubernatorial election in the state.

Oshiomhole made this remark during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, while reflecting on the election results.

On Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Edo State gubernatorial election.

Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who polled 247,274 votes.

In his interview, Oshiomhole stated that the outcome of the election reflected the true will of the people of Edo State. He also addressed the comments and controversies that followed the declaration of the APC candidate as the winner, reiterating that the electorate had made their choice without resorting to violence.

“We subscribe to President Jonathan’s school of thought, which says the election of even a president is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. And yet you have the PDP National Chairman talking about a bloodbath for elections, while Governor Obaseki had earlier insisted it was a ‘do-or-die’ affair,” Oshiomhole said.

Referring to Obaseki’s pre-election rhetoric, Oshiomhole added, “I watched him on Channels TV insisting that the election was do-or-die. When asked to clarify, he said if they did, then they would be dead. Now the people have done it, and I guess he is politically dead.”

Oshiomhole further highlighted the consistency of the people’s support for Okpebholo, who was elected as a senator in the previous year and has now been chosen as the governor-elect. “The people of Edo have decided. Monday, who was elected last year as a senator, has now been declared the governor-elect,” he stated.

With Okpebholo’s victory and Obaseki’s term nearing its end, the political landscape in Edo State is set for a significant shift. Oshiomhole’s comments underline the deepening rivalry between the APC and PDP, with his remarks about Obaseki signaling the intensity of political tensions in the state.