The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, has hailed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, describing it as a vote of confidence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senator Barau, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, said that the people’s say remains the most potent force in any democracy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC as the winner of last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State after polling 291,667 votes against Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 247,274 votes to place second while the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Olumide Akpata, garnered 22,763 votes to place third.
Senator Barau, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, commended INEC for upholding the people’s will as expressed by their votes.
He also applauded the visionary leadership of the national chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, which, according to him, has given the party more cohesion and ultimately led to the party’s victory in the election.
“The victory of our great party, the All Progresives Congress in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State is well-deserved. I congratulate the governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo and all our supporters for this victory. It is not just a victory for the APC but for our democracy and the people of Edo State.
“This victory is a further expression of the confidence of the people of the state in the exemplary leadership and performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since his assumption of office in May last year.
” It is also a result of the visionary leadership of our national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who has made the party more cohesive and paved the way for its victory in this election,” he said.
Senator Barau, while calling on the governor-elect to be magnanimous in victory, urged all those who contested the elections but lost to lend their support in moving Edo State forward.
“ I, therefore, implore my friend, the governor-elect, Senator Okpebholo, to be magnanimous in victory and equally call on all others who contested against him but lost to lend their hands of support in moving Edo State forward,” he said.