JUST IN: Monday Okpebholo sworn in as Edo gov

In a grand ceremony held in Benin, Edo State’s capital, Senator Monday Okpebholo took his oath of office as the newly elected governor of Edo State on Tuesday, around 1 p.m.

The inauguration marked the beginning of Okpebholo’s tenure after winning the September 21 off-cycle governorship election as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He garnered 291,667 votes, outpacing his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 247,274 votes, while Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came third with 22,763 votes.

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Dennis Idahosa was also sworn in as the deputy governor of Edo State during the event. Several dignitaries attended, including Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, chair of the Governors’ Forum; and Philip Shaibu, Edo’s reinstated deputy governor, along with other prominent governors and party members.

Following his swearing-in, Governor Okpebholo rode around the stadium in an open-top van, acknowledging cheers from enthusiastic supporters, signaling a fresh start for Edo under his leadership.