A West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate allegedly belonging to the newly elected Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has surfaced on social media, showing poor performance in several subjects. Dated 2008, the document has caused a stir among critics and political opponents who are questioning the governor-elect’s academic credentials. The controversy around Okpebholo's educational qualifications comes just days after his victory in the highly contested Edo State governorship election.
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It will be recalled that Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, was declared the winner of the September 21 gubernatorial election, securing a total of 291,667 votes across the state’s 18 local government areas (LGAs), as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Okpebholo's main challenger, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), finished closely with 247,655 votes, while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) trailed with 22,763 votes.
However, Okpebholo’s triumph has been overshadowed by a series of controversies, including a notable campaign gaffe. During a rally at Ovia North LGA, the APC candidate inadvertently stated that he would "provide insecurity" to Edo State if elected. The blunder, caught on camera, quickly spread on social media, igniting widespread outrage and criticism. While speaking on security concerns raised by Adams Oshiomhole, the senator representing Edo North, Okpebholo mistakenly said, "We’re going to provide you with insecurity," before hurriedly correcting himself.
The incident provoked reactions from various political and civic groups, including The Edo Salvation Group (ESG). The group gave Okpebholo 24 hours to explain the error or face a possible withdrawal of their support. ESG’s national coordinator, Imman Ekpe, expressed concerns over the readiness of the APC candidate to lead the state, highlighting his lack of precision during the campaign. Ekpe also mentioned other campaign blunders by Okpebholo, including an oversimplified promise to resolve Edo’s electricity problems by providing transformers.
Despite these missteps, Okpebholo’s supporters have celebrated his victory, while his opponents, particularly the PDP, are calling for a review of the election results. Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, the PDP Chairman in Edo State, accused INEC of discrepancies in the final results and the figures uploaded to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IREV). He urged INEC to reassess the results to ensure fairness and transparency.
The PDP’s call for an investigation has been echoed by several political analysts who argue that the governorship race was one of the most hotly contested elections in the state's recent history. As tension builds, all eyes are on the outcome of the PDP’s petition, which could reshape the narrative of Okpebholo’s win.
Adding to the growing criticisms, the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Edo governorship election, describing it as a "travesty of democracy." In a statement following the announcement of Okpebholo’s victory, Fintiri decried the numerous irregularities reported during the voting process, including incidents of voter intimidation, vote-buying, and violation of election guidelines.
Fintiri specifically condemned the APC’s national chairman for arriving in Edo State via private jet on election day, despite restrictions on movement. He also criticized the use of armoured escorts by APC governors to allegedly intimidate voters. "The APC’s actions during this election were a clear threat to Nigeria’s democratic values. We must all rise to protect democracy and hold those responsible accountable," Fintiri said in a fiery statement.
The Adamawa governor’s remarks have heightened public debate about the fairness of the electoral process in Edo State. Several civil society organizations have joined the call for an independent review of the election, citing the growing disillusionment among Nigerians over the state of democracy in the country.while the dust settles on the Edo State governorship election, the controversies surrounding Governor-elect Monday Okpebholo are far from over. From the surfacing of his alleged WAEC results to his campaign missteps and mounting pressure from opposition parties, Okpebholo's leadership will undoubtedly face scrutiny. The political landscape in Edo is now charged with uncertainty, with many awaiting the outcome of legal challenges and possible electoral reforms to restore confidence in Nigeria’s democratic system.
