FIXING ITSELF from the crushing defeat, in the Edo State governorship election of September 19, the ruling All Progressive Congress, Monday, congratulated Godwin Obaseki for his re-election as Governor of the State. Mai Mala Buni, National Caretaker Committee Chairman’s statement titled: “Edo State Governorship Election – Victor For Democracy”, described the election as peaceful, and the outcome represented victory for Nigeria’s democracy.
This was hours after Buni and Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State and Chairman of APC Campaign Council for Edo State governorship election, met with President Buhari, behind closed doors. Buni said some problems within APC worked against the party and its candidate for the election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Buni warned against disunity in the party. Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, polled 307,955 votes to defeat Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressive Congress, APC, with 223,619 votes.
Buni’s statement said: We hereby congratulate the winner of the election, the people of Edo State and all Nigerians. The peaceful conduct of the election and its outcome represent victory for Nigeria’s democracy
“As a party, we join our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, to affirm our ‘commitment to free and fair elections’ in order to strengthen ‘the foundation for our political and moral authority’. We commend INEC, our security agencies and all political parties that contested the election for the successful conduct of the election. As a governing party, we will take every step necessary to support the Federal Government to consolidate all the gains achieved”.
APC commended Osagie Ize-Iyamu for his “tenacity and leadership”, as well as, its Edo State leaders, including immediate past National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, for demonstrating unwavering support for the party and its candidate in the election.
“In the face of all the challenges, we collectively remained faithful and worked tirelessly during the campaigns. We appeal to all our members to be strengthened by the outcome of the election and unite in order to correct all the problems that worked against our party and our candidate in the just-concluded election”.
Buni urged the party members to unite to move democracy forward. “We must put an end to the era when the electoral contest become warfare. We urge our candidate and all our members to join us in congratulating Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the PDP, being the declared winner of the election”.
ON ONDO STATE, October 10, governorship election, Buni said: “Our attention must now shift to Ondo State and ensure that we win the October 10, 2020 election. September 19, 2020 Edo election should present a new watershed.
“We will work hard to win the Ondo election. Having reaffirmed our commitment to free and fair elections, it is our expectation that all opposition parties in the country will also commit themselves to free and fair contests. We will therefore accordingly expect a congratulatory message from all parties just as we similarly guarantee that once we are defeated in a fair contest, we will congratulate the winner.”
