The streets of Benin City,  Edo State capital, was agog on Sunday following the re-election of Mr Godwin Obaseki as governor of Edo State for another four years.

Obaseki, candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, was declared winner by Independent National Electoral Commission having polled 307,955 to defeat his main rival, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu of All Progressives Congress, who had 223,619.

Obaseki won his first election in 2016 as a candidate of APC, principally supported by Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the immediate past governor and former chairman of APC. Ize-Iyamu was then the candidate of PDP.

From Reservation Road to Aideyan Crescent, where Mr Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor-elect resides, to Airport Road and other parts of Government Reservation Area of Benin, motorists displayed the banner of PDP chanting the four-plus-four slogans.

The Government House community was not left out as they rolled out drums to celebrate the reelection of Obaseki.

Amid the celebration, it was observed that fireworks rained in the air from a street not too far from the Reservation Road.

Moses Obahon, one of those celebrating within the Government House community, said the re-election of Obaseki was one of the most outstanding exercises conducted in the history of Nigeria.

Obahon said, “This election that brought Obaseki back is one of the most outstanding in Nigeria and this is what we want in this country. We need people with the capacity and quality to govern us and that is why the people have come out in their numbers to celebrate his re-election. If a governor is not working, the people have the power to remove him. Obaseki has been working effectively and that is why we voted him back and that is why we are celebrating.”

Chinyere Onyia, an activist, who was among those celebrating at Government House, said she was happy because the result of the people reflected the wishes of the people.

Onyia said, “I have known the governor as a humanitarian figure in the state, and he has a vision for the people of the state. He has shown that he has a passion for people that are physically challenged and the indigent in the society. He does whatever he has done in the last four years without making noise about it.

Tina Okoi, an Abuja-based indigene of the state, who was also sighted celebrating Mr Obaseki’s victory, said the governor’s re-election had put an end to godfatherism in the state.

Okoi said, “I am celebrating because we do not want godfatherism again. Edo truly is not Lagos and it shows that we (Edo indigenes) are one.”

Rose Akhigbe, an indigene of Jattu in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state who was also spotted celebrating, said she was rejoicing because of the re-election of Obaseki and Philip Shaibu, his deputy, was a tough fight.

“I am celebrating the victory of Obaseki and his deputy because it was a tough race and in the end, they won. It shows that when the Edo people believe in a course they can die with it. No more godfatherism,” Akhigbe said.

PT