Obaseki receives certificate of return after Edo election victory

Obaseki and his deputy have received certificates of return after victory at the polls.

Governor Godwin Obaseki has received a certificate of return following his victory in the Edo governorship election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the 63-year-old winner of the September 19 election after concluding votes collation on Sunday, September 20, 2020.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) beat Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and 12 other candidates.

Obaseki received his certificate of return during a ceremony that took place at INEC's Collation Centre, in Benin, Edo State capital, on Tuesday, September 22.

The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Edo, Bayelsa and Rivers, May Agbamuche-Mbu, presented the certificates of return to both Obaseki and the state's deputy governor-elect, Philip Shaibu.

"INEC, I believe, has played its humble part but we have always maintained that a successfully conducted election is a collective effort, and so it has proven to be," she said.

Obaseki praised INEC's conduct of the election, and extended a hand of friendship to his opponents.

He said, "I am using this opportunity to extend a hand of fellowship to my brother, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and other colleagues in the APC to work with us to move Edo forward.

"On a specific note, I want to use this occasion to call on former national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, that the fight is over, to come and join in building the house where he was part of laying the foundation.

"We have no malice; the only thing we disagreed on is on the approach in moving Edo forward."

After the declaration of Obaseki's victory on Sunday, Ize-Iyamu failed to concede the election, announcing that he was studying the result before making a decision on next moves.

I thank and appreciate my supporters, who had to endure many evils including being prevented from voting, for their support and determination during the election. I assure you all that I am studying the results along with other party members and will announce my next move soon. pic.twitter.com/ICQp9y97aw

— Pastor Ize-Iyamu (@PastorIzeIyamu) September 20, 2020

The APC in Edo also publicly rejected the result, alleging that it was marred by numerous electoral malpractices.

However, the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the APC, Governor Mai Mala Buni, on Monday, September 21 hailed Obaseki's re-election as a victory for democracy.

The Yobe governor called on APC leaders and members to acknowledge the election as free, fair, and credible as already done by President Muhammadu Buhari.