President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, on his victory in the Edo State governorship election held on Saturday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Senator Okpebholo the winner on Sunday after he defeated his opponents in the keenly contested race.
In a statement released by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended the APC national leadership, party officials in Edo State, and APC governors for their efforts in securing the victory.
He noted that Okpebholo’s triumph reflects the strong support for the ruling party’s progressive ideals and the ongoing economic reforms aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians.
“The victory testifies to the people’s support for the APC, its progressive ideals, and its commitment to re-engineering the economy and enhancing the welfare of Nigerians,” Tinubu said.
However, the President urged Senator Okpebholo not to gloat over his success but to view it as a responsibility to serve the people of Edo State.
He encouraged the Governor-elect to reach out to his political rivals and work towards uniting the state for collective progress.
“I urge you to demonstrate magnanimity by reaching out to your political opponents and uniting the people of Edo State to ensure its development,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu also commended the other candidates who participated in the election, praising their contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
He noted that the peaceful conduct of the election reflects positively on the country’s democratic maturity after 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.
“The peaceful political contest on Saturday portrays Nigeria as a stable democracy, and I commend the candidates for their role in advancing our democracy,” he said.
For those aggrieved by the election’s outcome, President Tinubu advised them to seek redress through legal means, reaffirming the importance of following due process in addressing electoral disputes.
He further praised the people of Edo State for their orderly conduct during the election, as well as INEC and the security agencies for ensuring a largely peaceful and hitch-free exercise.
Tinubu remarked that INEC had once again demonstrated its commitment to conducting free and fair elections in the country.
“I commend INEC and our security agencies for working tirelessly to ensure a successful, peaceful, and largely hitch-free election.
INEC has shown its dedication to organising credible elections in our country,” the President concluded.
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