Monday Okpebholo, former senator and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, has officially taken office as the governor of Edo State.
The inauguration ceremony was held in Benin, the state capital, where Okpebholo was sworn in around 1 pm on Tuesday, November 12.
Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21 governorship election marked a significant shift in Edo’s political landscape.
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He won with 291,667 votes, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 247,274 votes. The Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came in third with 22,763 votes.
Okpebholo’s running mate, Dennis Idahosa, was also sworn in as deputy governor. Dignitaries in attendance included Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the chair of the governors’ forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, and Philip Shaibu, Edo’s reinstated deputy governor.
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Governors from across the APC spectrum also joined the celebration, showcasing a strong display of party unity and support.
With a resounding endorsement from the electorate, Okpebholo now begins his term with high expectations.
The inauguration marks a new chapter for Edo State under APC leadership, and citizens and officials alike are eager to see the direction the state will take under Okpebholo's administration.