The United States commended the peaceful Edo governorship election held on September 21, 2024. APC candidate Okpebholo won with 291,667 votes, defeating PDP’s Asue Ighodalo. U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills praised the transparency of the process and urged all parties to respect legal procedures and maintain democratic principles.
The United States has praised the peaceful conduct of the Edo governorship election held on September 21, 2024. In a statement, Richard Mills, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, acknowledged the calm nature of the elections, in which the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Okpebholo, emerged victorious with 291,667 votes. His closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured 247,274 votes, while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) garnered 22,763 votes.
Mills commended the people of Edo State and Governor Godwin Obaseki for their efforts in promoting peace throughout the electoral process. He emphasized the importance of transparency and due process in maintaining public confidence in democratic systems. The ambassador urged all stakeholders to respect the legal procedures for challenging results.
The U.S. remains committed to supporting credible elections in Nigeria and continues to advocate for peaceful, transparent governance. Mills’ remarks highlight the need for calm and adherence to the established electoral processes, ensuring a stable and democratic transition.
The Edo governorship election has been widely regarded as a test of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, and the peaceful outcome has been seen as a positive step towards strengthening democracy in the country.
