APC Sweeps Edo By-Elections: Ikpea, Igbinedion Win Big

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded emphatic victories in Edo State as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Dr. Joseph Ikpea and Omosede Igbinedion winners of the Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency by-elections held on Saturday.

The polls were conducted to fill vacant National Assembly seats left open following the elevation of Governor Monday Okpebholo, the former senator representing Edo Central, and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, who had represented Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

At the collation centre in Ubiaja, headquarters of Esan South-East Local Government Area, the Returning Officer, Prof. Omo-Iwoze, announced that Dr. Ikpea of the APC secured a commanding 105,129 votes to defeat Joe Okojie of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 15,146 votes. Declaring him winner, Prof. Omo-Iwoze certified that Ikpea had met the requirements of the law and was duly elected.

In his acceptance speech, Ikpea dedicated the victory to God and the people of Edo Central, saying they had chosen “vision over sentiment, progress over politics-as-usual.” He pledged to prioritise infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, and healthcare, while working closely with Governor Okpebholo, whom he described as a leader of “exceptional qualities, strategic, selfless, and deeply connected to the people.”

Meanwhile, in Ovia Federal Constituency, APC’s Omosede Igbinedion made a strong comeback to the House of Representatives after polling 77,053 votes to defeat PDP’s Johnny Aikpitanyi, who scored 3,838 votes, and Dr. Sandra Asemota of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC), who garnered 925 votes.

Igbinedion, who first represented Ovia between 2011 and 2015, lost her re-election bid to Idahosa in 2019 and again in 2023. Her defection from the PDP to the APC in 2024 paved the way for her candidacy, following Idahosa’s nomination as deputy governor. Her return to the House of Representatives marks a significant political resurgence.