Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo has attributed the “exemplary leadership” of President Bola Tinubu to the victory recorded by the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, in the Saturday’s governorship election of Edo.

In a post-election statement issued by his spokesman, Ebenezer Adeniyan to journalists on Monday in Akure, the governor said Edo has been reclaimed back to the “progressives fold” where it belonged.

“I thank Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for providing the exemplary leadership that guaranteed a free, fair and peaceful election in Edo and I also congratulate him on the success of the party in the contest,” part of the statement obtained by Peoples Gazette read.

Mr Aiyedatiwa said the APC fought a good fight to win the guber election.

Mr Aiyedatiwa, who was the chairman of the election planning and strategy committee of the APC in the weekend governorship election of Edo, saluted the people of the state for entrusting governance in the hands of the APC by voting Mr Okpebholo.

He also commended the national chair of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, as well as the national and state campaign committees of the party for the efforts they put in place to achieve victory for the party in the state.

While appreciating the people for the peaceful conduct of the Edo election, Mr Aiyedatiwa asked them to repose confidence in Mr Okpebholo to change the face of governance in the state by implementing progressive policies and programmes that will make positive impacts.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the governorship candidate of the APC, Mr Okpebholo, winner of the Saturday’s election after he scored 291,667 votes to beat his closest rival and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo, who polled 247,274 votes.