Monday Okpebholo has been inaugurated as the governor of Edo, marking an end to the eight-year stint of Godwin Obaseki at the helm of affairs in the South-South state.
The ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the state capital, two months after the All Progressives Congress (APC) clinched the ticket to the Dennis Osadebay House.
Okpebholo took his oath of office alongside his running mate Dennis Idahosa.
The ceremony was attended by some dignitaries including Vice President Kashim Shettima who represented President Bola Tinubu; governors under the APC; Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo; a former governor of the Edo Adams Oshiomhole among others.
Their inauguration sums up an intriguing political season in Edo State that pitted former allies against each other, and godfathers against their mentees.
Okpebholo defeated Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 keenly-contested election. The APC candidate polled 291,667 as against his main rival’s score of 247,274 votes while Labour Party (LP)’s Olumide Akpata came a distant third with 22,763 votes in the polls contested by fourteen candidates.
Despite enjoying the backing of then-governor Obaseki, the PDP failed to continue its hold on power in Edo State, surrendering to the APC where the former governor clinched his first ticket to the seat.
Analysts believe the APC’s reclamation of Edo State is a testament to the fractured relationship between Philip Shuaibu (who served as Obaseki’s deputy) and Oshiomhole’s influence led to Okpebholo’s emergence.
But the PDP has faulted the victory, claiming its mandate was stolen. The party vowed to challenge Okpebholo’s win which they alleged was not the wishes of the people.
