Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo North, believes the Edo state governorship election outcome truly represents the people’s will.

In an interview with Channels Television, Oshiomhole rejected opposition parties’ claims of rigging in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Monday Okpebholo, APC’s candidate, the winner on Sunday.

Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who got 247,274 votes.

Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) came a distant third with 22,763 votes.

On Monday, Yiaga Africa, a civil society organisation (CSO), said the election failed the integrity test, adding that the collation process was marred by inconsistencies, which suggests vote manipulation.

The PDP has rejected the outcome of the election while asking INEC to review the results.

However, Oshiomhole said Okpbeholo represents the choice of the people, adding that the APC candidate won the poll because he “communicated” with the voters.

Oshiomhole criticised Godwin Obaseki, governor of the state, over PDP’s refusal to sign the peace accord ahead of the September 21 election.

“It was not rigged. This election is a reflection of the will of Edo people. Are you not surprised that it is not possible to rig election without violence? Edo people have spoken about their choice,” Oshiomhole said.

“Obaseki refused to sign the peace accord, which shows that he is a worse version of godfather since you call people like us godfathers. He is a worse version. He did not allow the candidate (Ighodalo to sign the peace accord).

He described Okpbeholo as a “poor man” who lacks the financial resources to buy votes like the other candidates in the election.

“The election was won by Senator Monday Okpbeholo. He has the mandate of the people, and that is what we call legitimacy,” he said.

”You just told me that this man (Okpbeholo) is weak, and yet he was able to rig out these directors with their money and wealth. A poor man like Monday. How?”

The senator insisted that the APC won the election “fair and square” and that the governor-elect will justify the confidence reposed on him by the people.

Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo North, claims Godwin Obaseki, the current governor of Edo, will lose his political influence after the September 21 governorship election.

This statement comes after INEC declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner with 291,667 votes, surpassing Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obaseki’s preferred candidate, who garnered 247,274 votes.

Speaking on Monday on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television, Oshiomhole said Ighodalo’s loss should sound the death knell on Obaseki’s political career.

The former governor of Edo also faulted Obaseki for visiting the INEC office in Benin City in the wee hours of Sunday, as the commission prepared to commence collation of results.

“I was a governor. Once I finish voting, if I like I’d wait at the polling booth for a bit, chat with people and then I go home. If I find that my appearance is attracting more attention, I just quietly head home,” Oshiomhole said.

“How can a sitting governor go to a collation centre? To intimidate or possibly influence the results or to change the results? What was he doing there? How can a governor go to a collation centre when collation is going on?”

Obaseki had said his mission to the INEC office was to find out why the electoral umpire had not commenced collation.

Oshiomhole also criticised the outgoing governor for labelling the election a “do-or-die affair” days before the polls.

“Obaseki said the election was a do-or-die affair. He told you that here. He insisted. Now, the people have done it, he’s dead,” the senator said.

“Now the people have done it, I guess he’s politically dead. I know so. The verdict is out.”

Oshiomhole said Okpebholo should not be judged on the basis of his inability to communicate in fluent English.

The governor-elect shunned a handful of television invitations before the election, with many often referencing his smattering English on the campaign trail.

“So, if you can speak good grammar because you sit on a board, nobody knew how you became a board chairman… Edo people have spoken,” he added.

“When a man goes to a village and speaks his dialect, he has more impact on those communities than when you speak high profile English that when you finish, people will ask ‘what did he say’?

“Monday communicated with the Edo electorate and it worked.

“The mistake you TV hosts make, many of you, is to assume that anyone who doesn’t appear before you… you exaggerate the importance of television viewers.”

Oshiomhole also described the governorship poll as “free and fair”.

Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo, has urged residents to remain peaceful and avoid destructive tendencies following the gubernatorial election’s outcome.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as the winner of the September 21 election.

Okpebholo, a serving senator, won the election with 291,667 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 247,274 votes.

Olumide Akpata, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), came a distant third with 22, 763 votes.

The APC won the election in 11 of the 18 LGAs in Edo, while the PDP secured victories in the remaining seven LGAs.

In a broadcast to residents, Obaseki called for calm, saying those who feel aggrieved should follow due process by challenging the outcome in court.

“The attractive thing about democracy is the power it bestows on the people to choose who governs them. Therefore, when this power is blatantly seized from the people, it is not just a tragedy, but a travesty of democracy,” the governor said.

“Regrettably, the outcome of the September 21 governorship election appears to have daunted the spirit of many Edo people who feel powerless in the face of brute force of the institutions that are supposed to protect them.

“It is, therefore, understandable that many people feel sad and aggrieved. But in the midst of this despair, I am urging all my fellow Edo citizens to maintain calm and not resort to violence and destruction of property in spite of this provocation.

“Peace and justice will always win at the end and this is my prescription for all the good people of Edo state who feel vexed about and violated at this time.

“Clearly, it is obvious to the least discerning the amount of impunity and disregard for process and law that was displayed in this gubernatorial election.

“In a democracy, there are always safeguards for addressing grievances and we hope that all those affected will seek resolution for this blatant disregard for law and process.”

The governor asked residents to go about their lawful businesses, adding that the government is committed to their well-being and security.