Senator Monday Okpebholo has been declared the winner of the Edo State governorship election held on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, as the winner of the keenly contested poll.
The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Faruq Adamu Kuta, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, announced the result at the INEC collation centre in Benin City.
Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, winning eleven out of the 18 Local Government Areas in the state, while Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party secured 247,274, winning seven LGs.
Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party came a distant third with 22,761 votes.
Things to know about Edo governor-elect
1. Senator Monday Okpebholo was born on 29 August 1970 to the family of the late Chief and Mrs. Peter Okpebholo of Udomi community in Uwessan-Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area.
2. His father hailed from Udomi community in Uwesan-Irrua, Esan Central LGA, while the mother was a native of Ikekiala community in Eguare-Uromi, Esan North East LGA.
3. Okpebholo, also known as Akpakomiza, attended Udomi Community Primary School and Ujabhole Community Secondary School, respectively, in Uwesan-Irrua, Esan Central LGA.
4. He obtained a degree in Business Administration from the University of Abuja. He furthered his education with a Master’s degree in Policy and Leadership Studies at the same UniAbuja.
5. Okpebholo won the Edo Central Senatorial District seat under the All Progressives Congress on 25 February 2023, breaking the 24-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party in the zone.
6. On 13 June 2023, he was inaugurated as the Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly and chaired the Senate Committee on Public Procurement.
7. On 23 February 2024, Okpebholo was declared the APC governorship primary election winner in Edo State.
8. Okpebholo is an entrepreneur with investments in hospitality, construction, oil and gas, and Information and Communications Technology.
9. Senator Okpebholo founded a company, Chapman Computers Limited, in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, and later established another firm, Interweb Satcom Limited, a major industry player in broadband sales and development.
10. He is married to Mrs Blessing Okpapi Okpebholo and blessed with four children.
(Punch)
