Photos of Governor-elect Monday Okpebholo kneeling to thank Senate President Godswill Akpabio after the just concluded Edo state governorship election are circulating.

Okpebholo, on Sunday, September 22, 2024, was declared the winner of the gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Edo State went to the polls on Saturday, September 21, to elect their next governor after Godwin Obaseki.

According to the results collated by the electoral body in Edo State, Okpebholo scored 291,667 votes, beating his major contender, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came second with 247,274 votes, leaving Labour Party’s (LP) Olumide Akpata with 22,763.

The APC candidate, Okpebholo won in 11 of the state’s 18 local governments, while the PDP candidate won in the remaining seven.

The race was a keen contest between the PDP and APC, both of which were accused by election observers of vote-buying.

However, after INEC declared APC’s Okpebholo as the winner, photos of the incoming governor of Edo State kneeling before Akpabio and some other party dignitaries have sparked massive reactions.

Nigerians on social media raised concerns over the photo, criticizing Okpebholo.

shakar_el: The worst of this society are the ones leading this society

big_mishy: He is not even thanking the people

wealthyforever: Why would any democratically elected person kneel for anyone because they won?

charlesinojie: @sir_jozee1 Is it too difficult for you to understand that election is over and a winner declared? This is not about the governor elect, but about the gradual erosion of democratic ethics and values. What makes one senator superior to another simply because one is president and the other a member? When you owe your political position to an individual or a group of individuals rather than to the people who voted you into office, you ultimately become subservient to those individuals. That, if you care, is not good for our democracy

unstoppableabt: Thanking them for rigging d elections. APC will never know peace

princekelvinhills: Nothing will give me greater joy than to see this incoming governor bite the hand that fed him

tmtpilot: When it comes to politics, na God fatherism be the greatest problem way naija get

nyetiabasidan: He will lie down to thank Tinubu. Adams Oshiomole wants a mumu he and other APC leaders can control.

brightoski30bg: Na now I know say the ADELEKE family truly strong Oo. For Them to win under PDP for that Osun State was outta this world ... them really deserve a fully loaded truck load of flowers kudos @davido you did it kudos to the governor IMOLE.

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