By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

Benin-city, the Edo state capital, went agog in jubilation as incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emerged winner of the 2020 governorship election in the state.

Obaseki polled a total of 307,955 votes against his closed rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 223,619 to emerge second.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer, Prof.

 “Godwin Obaseki of the PDP, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner,” Johnson Alalibo, the chief returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, announced yesterday in Benin City.

Obaseki also won in 13 of the 18 local government areas and thus scored more than 25 per cent of votes cast in two-thirds of the local governments in the state to satisfy the second constitutional requirement to be declared governor.

Saturday’s election was not without incidents of ballot snatching, over voting technical glitches affecting card readers, and violence reported in a few polling units by returning officers during the collation exercise.

Fourteen political parties contested the election, but PDP and APC had upper hands of popular candidates.

Show Grace and Humility in Victory, Buhari tells Obaseki

In his reaction, President Muhammadu Buhari commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a peaceful election  which led to the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said that his commitment to free and fair elections was firm  ”because without free and fair elections, the foundation of our political and moral authority will be weak.

“I have consistently advocated free and fair elections in the country because it is the bedrock of true democratic order. Democracy will mean nothing if the votes of the people don’t count or if their mandate is fraudulently tampered with”, he said.

He commended the people of Edo State, the parties, candidates and security agencies for conducting themselves responsibly.

End to Godfatherism has Started – Atiku  

Former Vice President and Presidential candidate in 2019 elections under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahaji  Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki for his re-election victory.

Atiku described the Saturday election as an “end to godfatherism in the nation’s political system”.

In a statement, Atiku congratulated the people of Edo state for their resilience before and during the election held across the 18 local government areas of the state.

 “There is a new dawn in Edo state, and the hard won victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki is not just a victory, but a declaration of independence from the anti-democratic forces of godfatherism and militarism.

“No victory could be sweeter than this, and I heartily congratulate the governor, and the good people of Edo state for their resilience in the face of the forces arrayed against them.

“Edo has a rich history as the centre of Black civilisation, and to this, she is adding a new history as the bastion of Nigerian democracy. This double whammy of ancient and modern glories is a testament to a people who have for centuries set the pace as a beacon of light on the African continent.

“I most heartily congratulate the Peoples Democratic Party, who stood shoulder to shoulder, with the people of Edo and their government, in good times and bad. We, in the PDP, have shown that we are not fair-weather friends to the good people of Edo.

“In good times, we will walk beside you. In bad times, we will be your true ‘comrade’. We will never be a turncoat. We will never abandon the principles we once espoused.

“From personal experience, I know Governor Obaseki to be a magnanimous man, and I urge Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to accept the right hand of fellowship that is likely to be extended to him.

He is amongst strange bedfellows, and I remind him that no matter how far one has gone on a wrong road, it is never too late to turn back and head in the right direction. The PDP is the right direction.”

The Wazirin Adamawa equally called on the people of Ondo state to resist any attempt by a godfather to impose his will on them as the countdown to the governorship election in the South-West state begins.

“To the good people of Ondo state, my message to you is that freedom from the oppressive grasp of godfathers and external forces that seek to dominate your will and eviscerate your treasury is possible. Edo has done it. You can do it too!

“There is a new wind of democratic change now blowing all over Nigeria. The forces of despotism, nepotism, and interlopers cannot successfully withstand this force”, he said in the letter.

Gov-elect Thanks President for Defending Democracy

The re-elected Governor of Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki, has reacted to his victory at the Saturday’s governorship election.

Obaseki commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the conduct of free and fair election by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He stated this during a press conference in Benin City, the state capital after he was declared winner of the election.

Obaseki also thanked people of the state for re-electing him for another four years.

 “The people of Edo have spoken and they spoke loudly. Thank you President Buhari for defending democracy and for allowing INEC and security services to performing their duties without interference.

“INEC has shown that they can conduct election without interference. I’m grateful to the right party, the PDP, my governors.”

Victory a Huge Relief – Ekweremadu

Former Deputy President of the Senate Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated Governor of Edo, Godwin Obaseki, on his re-election, describing the just concluded election as “a huge relief”.

Ekweremadu, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National Campaign Council for Edo, said this yesterday in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr Uche Anichukwu.

Ekweremadu commended the people of Edo, INEC and the security agencies for “rising to the occasion”, given what he described as the “dwindling fortunes of the nation’s electoral process in recent years”.

 The senator, who was in Edo to monitor the election, added that the Edo polls had proved, once again, that no man could effectively play God.

“I join other well-meaning Nigerians to congratulate Obaseki and the PDP on this well-deserved victory. “While our electoral processes still leave much to be desired, I must say that compared to recent elections, the Edo governorship poll has renewed the hope that we can get our elections right.

“This is given the conduct of the electorate, INEC, security agencies, and most of the other stakeholders, which ensured a peaceful process, an outcome that reflected the will of the people.

“For emphasis, the Edo 2020 election showcased the beauty of democracy; the supremacy of the people’s will over the whims and caprices of any single man or woman, be it a godfather or godmother.

“And if there is a moral lesson to be learnt, it is also that no man can successfully play God, for God will always put men in their place,” he said.

Ekweremadu urged Obaseki to see his popular mandate as both an approval of his stewardship in the last four years and a call to lead Edoland on the path of greater peace, prosperity, and all-round development.

 PDP Congratulates Governor-elect

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, deputy governor, Philip Shaibu for their victory in Saturday’s gubernatorial poll, describing the victory as historic.

Addressing a press conference at the party secretariat, Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan also commended the people for staying vigilant while the exercise lasted.

“This victory, as won by the people, is historic and serves as a strong, viable and unambiguous lesson to leaders. Our party celebrates the resilience and courage exhibited by the people of Edo state in resisting the antics of the enemies of democracy, who, as vote buyers, patrons of lions and tigers, as well as beguilers, attempted to take over the political space of Edo state.

 “We rejoice with the Edo people for helping to reset the political culture of our nation by casting their votes, protecting the votes, ensuring that their votes counted and following it, ‘bumper-to-bumper,’ to the final point of declaration.

 “Our party commends traditional institutions, faith-based organizations, youth groups, market women, artisans, community associations, trade unions, traditional leaders and other stakeholders in Edo state for standing up for their state during her critical moments,” he said.

 He commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies for their respective roles in making the exercise hitch-free.

“On account of the reverberation of this victory across the length and breadth of our country, the PDP implores President Muhammadu Buhari to continue in this newfound spirit of ensuring that the people are allowed to freely choose their leaders at all elections. “Our party states this in our belief that in spite of his administration’s failure in other spheres of life as well as in previous elections if Mr President can continue to toe this new line of allowing for electoral uprightness, history will be beckoned to be kind to him.

 “To the ‘political godfathers,’ this election must serve as a loud lesson that power belongs only to God, which he confers through the people; and that no matter how an individual strives to lord it over others, the will of God, through the people, will always prevail.

“Our party also notes the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, under Prof Yakubu Mahmood in ensuring that the Edo election was conducted in a manner that was largely adjudged to be free, fair, transparent and credible.