Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared winner of the Edo State governorship election held on Wednesday. The declaration was made minutes ago in Benin City, the state capital, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Obaseki won over 314,000 votes, beating his closest rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with a wide margin. Ize-Iyamu scored over 253,000 votes.

The collation process was not without controversy, with some of the parties calling for either a recount of the votes in some areas or outright cancellation of the ballot due to irregularities.

PDP, in particular, is alleging that its victory in several areas had been overturned between midnight and this morning mainly through the voiding of valid votes and inflation of the votes of the ruling party.

Chieftains and representatives of KOWA Party and Action Alliance, while reacting to figures announced at the collation centre in Benin City, the state capital, also called for the cancellation of the election, alleging that it was marred by inducement and over-voting, among other malpractices.

•Photo shows Edo Governor-elect Godwin Obaseki.