Comrade Adams Oshiomhole
Muhammad Bello in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate and governor-elect in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Monday commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his patriotism in the conduct of the nation’s affairs, especially the conduct of the governorship election, despite being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Oshiomhole’s commendation also came on a day the defeated governorship candidate of the PDP in the election, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), cited a statement allegedly credited to the governor faulting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the conduct of the election, as one the reasons why he was not going to congratulate Oshiomhole.
But, Oshiomhole who fielded questions from State House correspondents in Abuja, said: “The President has demonstrated that with his kind of statesmanship, there is hope for Nigeria. If for nothing else, the people can choose who they want. That is the beginning of a sustainable economic and social development.”
The governor noted that the deployment of soldiers, policemen and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) to monitor the elections facilitated the peaceful conduct of the poll, contrary to fears in some quarters concerning the deployment.
“What the Edo election has confirmed is that when the President and Commander-in-Chief puts the country first and he conducts himself as a statesman not just as a party leader, credible elections are possible. This is because people were apprehensive that the Nigerian Army could be misused. But of course, I told them I didn’t think they were right,” Oshiomhole explained.
While commending the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, and the SSS for sticking to the presidential directives, the governor said: “They delivered on the President’s orders. The SSS were fantastic because they were always at the collating centres where some of the manipulations can take place.”
On why he took on INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the governor said his reasons were not far-fetched.
He alleged that INEC deliberately delayed the delivery of voting materials to polling centres, thus heralding the delay in the accreditation of voters.
Speaking at an interactive session with journalists at his Benin City residence, Airhiavbere, said “I won’t fully comment on the election because the acclaimed winner had earlier in the day about 1pm condemned the electoral system, he condemned the chairman of INEC for the process that has not ended. That process at the end of the day declared him the winner. I will observe in the next few days before I make my comment. It could have been easy to congratulate him but he also had pre-empted the system that brought him.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, his Anambra State counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi, and a member representing Owan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Pally Iriase, have congratulated Oshiomhole over his victory at the election.
Ihedioha, while commending the people of the state for exercising their electoral franchise freely, noted that by their majority vote for the governor, they had contributed to the growth and development of democracy in the country.
Also, Amosun in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Mrs Funmi Wakama, described Oshiomhole’s victory as “a reward for hard work and commitment to the welfare of the people of Edo State.”
Reacting also, Obi describes Oshiomhole’s victory as victory for democracy, Edo State and Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Iriase while fielding question from journalists in Benin City, said: “What it means is that the way to go for Nigeria and the progressives have decided and committed themselves to politics of development and it would be better for Nigerians to embrace that philosophy of politics, that is what Edo State has already done and am urging having brazed the trail in the heart beat of the nation others must key in.”
Corrigendum
In Monday’s publication, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) results for last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State were transposed with that of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Below are the correct results by local government area. The error is regretted.
- Editor
Breakdown of Edo Election Results by LGA
LGAs ACN PDP ANPP CPC
Akoko Edo 29,803 13,783 163 184
Egor 50,623 3,486 294 281
Esan Central 11,792 9,281 83 65
Esan North-East 13,086 12,478 123 77
Esan South-East 14,904 9,634 85 61
Esan West 13,499 13,282 156 115
Etsako East 23,174 4,992 75 61
Etsako West 44,962 5,920 169 192
Igueben 9,751 6,758 63 35
Ikpoba/Okha 58,809 6,505 518 357
Oredo LGA 66,522 9,081 454 268
Orhionwon 26,163 8,716 277 235
Ovia South-West 16,077 5,015 196 222
Ovia North-East 26,835 5,427 280 233
Owan West 15,150 7,229 136 130
Owan East LGA 22,483 11,709 169 123
Uhunmwode 17,011 5,826 359 124
ACN 477,478 votes (73.72%)
PDP 144,235 votes (22.27%)
ANPP 3,642 votes (1.46%)
CPC 2,792 votes ( 0.43%)