Edo election: Oshiomhole dismisses Federal might in Okpebholo’s victory

Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole has dismissed claims of ‘Federal Might’ playing an impact in the victory of Monday Okpebholo during the just-concluded governorship election in Edo State.

Oshiomhole insisted that Okpebholo won his election fair, square and not through the instrumentality of Federal might.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Okpebholo winner of the election after polling the highest number of votes.

However, Oshiomhole assured that Okpebholo would do everything to justify his election victory when sworn-in.

Featuring on Channels TV’s Politics Today, the lawmaker said: “The candidate of the Labour Party of which Obi is their leader who doesn’t seem to be interested in the party, because he’s more of an obidient, he’s not an institutional person.

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“Report says he lost his polling unit to PDP not to us, so if a candidate lost his polling unit to PDP not to us, maybe his attack should be on PDP.

“From Obi’s sitting or hometown in Awka or Lagos, that’s how he arrived at that conclusion because he was not in Benin.

“Only last year, Obi and Atiku were both claiming that they won; two people claiming ownership of one phone.

“Ab-initio, one of them must be lying and yet they were entertained.

“Those who elected Monday Okpebholo are Edo people, Obi is not from Edo State, the PDP Chairman is not from Edo State, Asue Ighodalo is occasionally visiting Edo State, he does not live there.

“He operates from Protea Hotel, he does not stay in his village, I campaigned from my village and I told you that Edo people will not elect a visitor again.

“The election was won by Okpebholo, so he has the mandate of the people and that is what you call legitimacy.

“On the issue of Federal might, Federal might was there in 2016 when Obaseki won, in 2020 APC and Federal government was there under Buhari and he won. Then it was fine that there was no Federal might.

“I believe we won the election fair and square and we thank the Edo people. I know that Okpebholo when sworn-in will do everything possible to justify the huge confidence reposed in him.”