The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has presented Certificates of Return to the governor-elect of Edo state, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa.
The event, which took place at the INEC headquarters on Thursday, saw dignitaries including the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and some members of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, in attendance.
Other dignitaries were the court-reinstated Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu; Senator Matthew Uroghide; General Cecil Esekhaigbe (retd); Senator Francis Alimikhena; Ogbeide Ihama; Omosede Igbinedion, and Blessing Agbonmhere, among others.
Also, Senator Okpebholo promised to be a servant to all people of the state.
He made the promise when the National Chairman of APC, Umar Ganduje, alongside the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, and Senator Oshiomhole presented him to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, same Thursday.
Other APC governors on the entourage included Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Usman Ododo (Kogi) and Dapo Abiodun, (Ogun), and Comrade Shaibu.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared the candidate of the APC elected as the next governor of Edo State against allegations of irregularities in the September 21 gubernatorial election.
Speaking to correspondents after the meeting, the governor-elect pledged to be a servant of the people in office.
He also said he will be prepared to work with the opposition if they provide good ideas.
He stated: “For me, I’m coming as a servant to serve the Edo people. That is what is required of me, and that is what exactly I’m going to do.
“So, very soon, you will see a lot of development coming up in Edo. We are going to employ teachers.
“We are going to renovate our schools. A lot will be happening over time. So, with time, you recognise that a new dawn has happened.”
