A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC),Prince Tony Momoh, says the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s governorship election in Edo calls for celebration by all lovers of democracy.
Momoh, also a former Minister of Information, made the statement in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday.
NAN reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)had on Sunday declared Gov Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)winner of the election.
The commission said Obaseki polled 307,955 votes to defeat his closest rival Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC),who polled 223,619 votes.
Reacting, Momoh congratulated Obaseki, his opponents and Edo people for the conduct and outcome of the election.
He said he was congratulating everyone because the conduct and outcome of the election was victory for all Edo people and lovers of democracy.
Momoh said the election called for celebration as it was peaceful and transparent, proving wrong those who had predicted violence.
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“We thank God for the peaceful conduct of the election. The election was credible and the process was transparent.
“The election really calls for celebration of all Edo people and lovers of democracy because some people had predicted that there would be chaos and mayhem.
“That never happened. I congratulate the people of Edo and INEC for a well done job. This is a plus for democracy,” he said.
He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for doing everything possible to make the election peaceful.
Momoh said though Governor Obaseki should be congratulated for the victory, he believed his opponents also deserved to be congratulated for the peaceful election.
He said with the peaceful atmosphere after the election, it was a case of no winner, no vanquished.
Momoh urged all political stakeholders in Edo to sustain the peace and prove to the world that people could elect their leaders without rancour or violence.
The APC chieftain urged those who lost in the election to prepare better for the next elections in the state for victory.
