Osadebey Avenue, the seat of Edo State Government, erupted into joyous celebrations amidst sporadic firing of guns into the air by security personnel yesterday, shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pronounced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki, winner of the state gubernatorial election held on Wednesday.

Osadebey Avenue, the seat of Edo State Government, erupted into joyous celebrations amidst sporadic firing of guns into the air by security personnel yesterday, shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pronounced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki, winner of the state gubernatorial election held on Wednesday.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who led the celebrations, told newsmen that the victory has humbled Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin and Chief Raymond Dokpesi while Chief Tony Anenih “narrowly escaped  defeat.”
He said the victory has concluded his chapter in the struggle to end godfatherism, and promised that the APC was committed to dismantling the rigging machine of political godfathers in the state.
Oshiomhole expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost and for the clement weather during the election.
He said the election was “the final burial of political godfathers who have held the people hostage since 1999.”
“It is outstanding and remarkable that tensed as the election was with all the predictions, the APC, out of 18 local government areas, won in 15, decisively. Those who were loudest in making noise have been showed where they stand in relation with Edo people.
“We have humbled Chief Tom Ikimi even in the local government he claimed to have created. We defeated Chief Raymond Dokpesi in his polling unit, his Ward and his local government. That reassures that the ruthless deployment of media machinery is not enough to distort the will of Edo people to determine their choice”.
‎In apparent reference to the Igbinedions, Oshiomhole said: “In Okada, the political family that has boasted that they will continue to govern this state and even compel the state to adopt them as the queen of England, whose birthday must be celebrated, the APC was the preferred party by the people than that family in Okada.
“There is something unique in the way things have turned out. In Esan land, the senatorial zone of the PDP godfather, we won two out of the five local governments. We gave him a fight though he managed to escape. He used the factor of his age to play on the emotion of the people. It is a victory for the people of the state. Edo people are now proud they can now determine who rules them and no one godfather can choose a leader for them.”