Senator Monday Okpebholo has been declared the winner of Edo State’s governorship election, held on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) governorship candidate, the victor of the hotly contested election.
The election’s returning officer, Prof. Faruq Adamu Kuta, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, announced the results at the INEC collation centre in Benin City.
He received 291,667 votes, winning eleven of the state’s 18 local government areas, while Peoples Democratic Party candidate Asue Ighodalo received 247,274, winning seven LGs.
This publication highlights below 10 things to know about the Edo governor-elect.
1. Sen. Monday Okpebholo was born on August 29, 1970, to the late Chief and Mrs. Peter Okpebholo from the Udomi community in Uwessan-Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area.
2. His father was from the Udomi village of Uwesan-Irrua, Esan Central LGA, while his mother was from the Ikekiala community of Eguare-Uromi, Esan North East LGA.
3. Okpebholo, also known as Akpakomiza, attended Udomi Community Primary School and Ujabhole Community Secondary School, both in Uwesan-Irrua, Esan Central LGA.
4. He holds a degree in business administration from the University of Abuja. He continued his study by earning a Master’s degree in Policy and Leadership Studies from the same University of Abuja.
5. He won the Edo Central Senatorial District seat for the All Progressives Congress on February 25, 2023, ending the Peoples Democratic Party’s 24-year reign in the zone.
6. On June 13, 2023, he was inaugurated as Senator of the 10th National Assembly, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, and chairing the Senate Committee on Public Procurement.
7. On February 23, 2024, Okpebholo was proclaimed the APC governorship primary election winner in Edo State.
8. He is an entrepreneur who has made investments in hospitality, construction, oil and gas, and information and communications technology.
9. Okpebholo launched Chapman Computers Limited in Jos, Plateau State’s capital, and then established Interweb Satcom Limited, a prominent industry leader in broadband sales and development.
10. He is married to Mrs. Blessing Okpapi Okpebholo and has four children.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
