Alltimepost.com Sincerity of Purpose
By Idahosa Musa
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Dr. Joseph Ikpea and Omosede Igbinedion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winners of Saturday’s by-elections held in Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency.
The two seats in the National Assembly became vacant in September 2024, after the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo who was then the senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District and Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, who hitherto represented Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Dr. Ikpea, was declared winner of the polls with 105,129 votes by Professor Kingsley Ubaorji, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Returning Officer for the senatorial by-elections, at the wee hours of Sunday, in Ubiaja, the administrative headquarters of Esan South-East Local Government Area.
He defeated his closest rival, Joe Okojie of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 15, 146 votes.
“This is the declaration. I, Prof. Kingsley Ubaorji, hereby certified that I am the Returning Officer for the 2025 Edo Central Senatorial District bye election, held on the 16th day of August, 2024.
“That Ikpea Joseph of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared winner of the election.”
Speaking shortly after his declaration, the senator-elect dedicated his victory to God, and the people of the district whom he said had “chosen vision over sentiment, progress over politics-as-usual.”
“This victory reaffirms the people’s faith in our capacity to deliver. I will not disappoint them.
“I will work hand in hand with our governor, our party, and community leaders to ensure that every part of Edo Central feels the impact of quality representation.
“Governor Monday Okpebholo is a leader of exceptional qualities, strategic, selfless, and deeply connected to the people. His support has been a stabilising force throughout this journey,” he noted.
He promised to prioritize legislation and interventions in the areas of infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, healthcare, and the strengthening of traditional institutions.
Also, the Returning Officer for Ovia Federal Constituency by-election, Professor Clement Ighodalo, said that the APC candidate, Omosede Igbinedion pulled a total of 77, 053 votes to emerge winner of the poll.
He added that the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Johnny Aikpitanyi, scored 3, 838 votes; while the candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr. Sandra Asemota, garnered 925 votes to place first and second runners-up respectively.
Igbinedion who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2011, lost her reelection bid to the incumbent deputy governor, Idahosa.
She equally lost another attempt to Idahosa in 2023 and had to defect from the PDP to the APC when Idahosa was nominated as the APC governorship candidate for the September 2024 gubernatorial election in the state.
She clinched the APC ticket after Idahosa assumed office as deputy governor.
