Former President Muhammadu Buhari says he is hopeful that both leaders of the incoming administration and the party that lost in the just-concluded governorship election in Edo State would work together to strengthen democracy and maintain the trajectory of the state’s development.

Buhari said this while congratulating the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, on his victory at the poll.

The former president, in a statement on Sunday, September 22, 2024, said: “Congratulations to the APC and the election winner, Senator Monday Okpebholo on the historic electoral victory and my warmest wishes for a new lease of life for Edo State and its people.

“I very much hope the winners and the losers would work together to strengthen democracy and maintain the trajectory of development in the state.

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“I commend law enforcement agencies for the efforts that they put in ensuring a peaceful election and the multitude of election officials who strive to improve their act with each election.

“I pray that Nigeria, the continent’s most populous country, will continue to achieve remarkable progress under democracy.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer, Prof. Faruk Kuta, declared Okpebholo the governorship election winner while announcing the results in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Sunday, September 22, 2024.

Okpebholo, who has served as the senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District since 2023, won the election with 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes.

The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, came a distant third with 22,361 votes.

The Star