Edo Governor-elect Monday Okpebholo on Thursday said he awaited congratulatory messages from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition.

While briefing State House correspondents after presenting his certificate of return to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Mr Okpebholo promised to run an open-door administration and urged parties to accept defeat.

“If I had lost, I would have to bear it and I would have by now congratulated the winner. So, I’m expecting them to congratulate me,“ Mr Okpebholo said.

He said his election as governor of Edo signalled a new dawn for the state and promised to work with the opposition if they had good ideas.

“I think Edo people have spoken with their votes. For me, I’m coming as a servant to serve the Edo people,” said the governor-elect. “That is what is required of me, and that is exactly what I am going to do. So, very soon, we will see a lot of developments coming to Edo.”

“We are going to employ teachers, we are going to integrate our schools, a lot will be happening over time.”

Former Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who accompanied the governor-elect, said God made Mr Okpebholo’s victory possible.

“God confers power. Man can make all the efforts, but if God chooses not to crown it, it will be in vain.

“I am excited that we have reclaimed a new state almost in the same manner that we reclaimed it from PDP in 2007 before Obaseki took it away from us.

“My joy is the fact that Edo people will now have a governor that they can hug, they can touch, they can feel. And a governor that will open the doors,” he said.

According to Mr Oshiomhole, the governor-elect is at home with the ordinary people and understands the challenges of the rural poor.

“Incidentally, his name translated in English means the rescuer. And so God has brought him to rescue the Edo people, restore integrity, rebuild our schools and employ teachers so that parents don’t need to contribute money to pay teachers.

“Edo people cannot wait to see a new approach to governance; government of the people, by the people, and for Edo people,” said Oshiomhole.

He appealed to those who lost the governorship contest to accept it in good faith: “That you have lost doesn’t mean it’s all over for you.

“You can’t win until the time that God has appointed. So my advice to them is to accept the result,” he said.

On Monday, PDP rejected the outcome of the governorship election, saying it will use every legal means to reclaim its mandate.

(NAN)