Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State said politicians, who conjured election results and announced the same on social media during the governorship election are the same people crying that the polls were rigged.
Okpebholo stated this on Saturday at the Esan Central Local Government Council Secretariat, venue of the homecoming reception held in celebration of his victory by the Esan people.
While hailing the people of the state for voting him to power, the governor said those who lost would continue to cry foul because their rigging strategies failed.
“I thank the leadership of my party especially our President, Bola Tinubu for standing firm for justice and allowing equity to prevail and it led to the success and victory recorded by our party.
“The people that wrote results and were announcing fake results on the internet, are the same people crying today that somebody rigged the election.
“It is sad to say that the criminals are crying today that they have lost and will continue to lose. They are spending money day and night and wasting their money and will wait in vain,” he said.
On his part, the Onojie of Uromi, His Royal Highness Anselm Aidenojie II, said the people of Esan are happy that the son of the land is the governor of the state, saying all the monarchs of Esanland backed his ambition which eventually materialised.
“We, the traditional rulers from Esanland, went round the state to appeal for the support to produce the governor and today it’s a reality.
“We thank the Oba of Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare ll and we are grateful to all for the support. We believe that the governor will deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Edo State,” the royal father said.