The Commissioner for Information in Ondo State, Wale Akinlosotu, has congratulated the Edo State Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, and the Deputy Governor-elect, Dennis Idahosa, on their victory in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, describing it as well-deserved.

Akinlosotu praised the leadership of the All Progressives Congress for providing a platform for issue-based campaigns, as well as the party members for their support for Okpebholo in winning the election.

He added, “The people of Edo State listened and could see the difference. Hence, they spoke loudly with their votes last Saturday.”

In a statement issued in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday, the commissioner also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for boosting Nigerians’ interest in the APC and repositioning the party for victory in all elections.

He lauded the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who also served as the Chairman of the APC’s Election Planning and Strategy Committee for the Edo election, and other Progressive Governors for their solidarity and support in ensuring victory for the party.

Akinlosotu also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission and election stakeholders, including the security agencies, for conducting and ensuring a peaceful, free, fair, and credible governorship election.

He noted that this inspired the electorate to defy the downpour to perform their civic responsibilities.

He said, “The resounding victory of our party (APC) in Edo State is a sign of what’s to come in the Ondo State governorship election, coming up in November. We are committed to reenacting the winning streak. We are confident that the people of Ondo State will, through their votes, once again reject the opposition parties.

“We in the Ondo State APC are leaving no stone unturned in preparations for the election. Already, our party is daily receiving defectors from opposition parties, owing to the performance of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the aggressive membership drive by the party leadership.

“The people of Ondo State can see, feel, and are satisfied with what the APC-led government of Governor Aiyedatiwa is doing to improve their lives and are impressed that the state is better for it. This will earn us their votes in the election.

“We are not relenting. The politics and the forthcoming election will not stop the Aiyedatiwa administration from continuing to implement programmes and policies that resonate with the people of Ondo State and meet their yearnings and aspirations.

“These include robust education and health programmes, creating employment opportunities and empowering the youth; stepping up efforts in road construction and housing, creating an enabling environment to attract investors and boost the state’s industrial base, developing the agricultural sector, and providing support to farmers, among others. Smiles are already being put on the faces of students, workers, and pensioners.

“The people of Ondo State are convinced that what they have benefited from in the nine months of the Aiyedatiwa administration is just the tip of the iceberg compared to what is to come when he is reelected, hence their resolve to align with the APC.

“We are confident of victory in the election, as the opposition, particularly the PDP, is already in disarray, especially after the defeat it suffered in Edo State, where the number of its governors has once again been depleted by the electoral loss,” the commissioner said.

Akinlosotu, who said the APC’s victory in Edo State has already sent jitters down the spines of the PDP in Ondo State and its governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, derided them for raising false alarms as an excuse for their inevitable loss in the November governorship election.

The commissioner said, “The APC does not need to rig to win any election in Ondo State. APC won the previous governorship elections in the state fair and square, and this will be repeated in November. Our achievements are the reason the people of Ondo State will return us to office in the election.

“The PDP lost the Edo election due to the dismal performance of the Obaseki-led PDP government and the overwhelming credentials and promises of the APC candidate and Governor-elect, Okpebholo. Ondo PDP should stop making excuses. Where did they see a sham in the concluded Edo election?”