The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, on Sunday congratulated Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on his victory in the Edo State gubernatorial poll, describing his re-election as a reward for his service to the people of the state.
According to Senator Mark: “This re-election is a reward for service.
“It must serve as an elixir for greater performance.
“You must therefore continue to do only those things that have made you the best choice of your people.
“You must therefore continue to make service to your people the focal point of your administration.”
Urging Oshiomhole to be magnanimous in victory, Mark said the issue of election had come and gone, adding that Oshiomhole as well as his fellow contestants “must do the needful by joining hands together to build a new Edo state in the overall interest of the people.”
The President of the Senate commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, security operatives and the people of Edo State on the peaceful conduct of the election.
He also comisserated with the government and people of the state over those who lost their lives in the Ologbo boat mishap in the course of the election on Saturday.
The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described the victory of Oshiomhole as a triumph of peoples’ will and aspiration in the nation’s democratic evolution.
Aregbesola said the landslide victory of Oshiomhole is a demonstration of the people of Edo State’s love for democracy and good governance, which the ACN exemplifies as a political party.
In a statement signed by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, he stated that the superlative performance of Oshiomhole’s administration in nearly all sectors of governance, which has rescued the state from the precipice the Peoples Democratic Party dragged it during its almost nine years reign of abysmal performance, worked the magic for the party in the poll.
The governor also congratulated the Nigerian Army for what he described as “open display of loyalty to the Nigerian constitution” in its involvement in the election.
He said the ACN, under the Comrade Governor has returned the state to the right path of social, political and economic growth and progress in the last four years.
Aregbesola stressed that the electorate in the country have now been better educated and informed about those who only made empty promises just to win votes and those who promised and delivered on their promises as ACN had done in Edo and other states within its control.
“Today marks another watershed in the annals of our political history, electoral system and party politics. The massive supports he got from the people of his state clearly signposted the love the people have him, but above all their hope in democracy and good governance, a trait which the ACN epitomizes in all the ramifications,” Aregbesola said.
He implored people of other states to take a cue from Edo State, which is reaping the benefit of good governance and dividends of democracy, by voting for a party that is truly committed to the welfare and well-being of the people.
He urged the people of the country to therefore take their destiny in their hands by voting ACN in the next general election if they intend to get purposeful leadership as it is being enjoyed not only in Edo but also in all other ACN controlled states.
Aregbesola congratulated all leaders of the ACN for their untiring efforts at ensuring victory for the party, urging them not to relent until Nigeria is totally rescued from the claws of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The gubernatorial candidate of the National Conscience Party in Ogun State in the last general election, Ogbeni Lanre Banjo, has also congratulated Oshiomhole on his victory in the election.
Banjo said the re-election of Oshiomhole was a way of showing that the people of the state appreciate his contributions to improving their welfare.
He added: “I also congratulate the governor and his team. With this victory, the governor and his team have been further challenged to do more for the people of Edo and establish an enviable lasting legacy.
“The governor should consciously embark on programmes that will reduce poverty and remove the people of Edo from the claws of money bags giving pittance to voters for them to mortgage their life.
“It is when citizens do not collect money or materials for votes would they be spiritually and psychologically free to hold elected officials accountable for their misrule.
“The Governor must use his second term in office to develop other cities in Edo State.
“While I commend INEC for gradually removing the mindset that free and fair elections cannot be conducted in Nigeria, it must be stated that Nigerians are concerned that INEC which is saddled with the responsibility to conduct elections in 774 local governments could not conduct elections in 18 local governments without lateness.
“After several elections conducted in individual states, one would have thought that INEC would have had “lesson learned” in each of the states and use the “lessons learned” to improve itself.
“INEC needs to study the cause of lateness and establish procedures to nip it in the bud. It was lack of good planning that usually resulted in lateness and that led to the transportation of election materials using a boat without life jackets.
“Also, paralyzing the economy during elections is enough pain on the people. Further pain being imposed by requiring voters to first line up for accreditation, go home and then return to vote needs to be revisited.
“If the objective is to know the numbers of the accredited voters that objective could be attained by simply allowing a voter to accredit, the accreditation recorded by INEC and party agents present and vote immediately after accreditation.
“This will reduce the pains being inflicted on the voters and encourage more voters to exercise their rights.”