Jubilation as Oshiomole wins Second Term

Edo State erupted in wild jubilation on Sunday after Governor Adams Oshiomhole was declared elected for a second term by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

In the state capital, the announcement of Oshiomhole, who ran on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, as the winner of Saturday’s governorship poll led to wild jubilation.

In the sedate GRA area, gunshots went off in the air, signalling the start of a wild celebration.

At the ACN secretariat on Airport Road, jubilant crowds waving brooms spilled on to the road, causing a gridlock.

The happy crowds sang Oshiomhole’s praises while motorists were waved to a stop as the people sang and danced.

Traffic came to a standstill until about four mobile policemen arrived at the scene to restore order.

Opposite the ACN secretariat was a hotel adorned with Airhavbere’s campaign posters. Two young men detaching themselves from the crowd went over to the wire fence of the hotel and began pulling down the posters.

About 45 minutes later, a detachment of soldiers in three vans arrived at the hotel to prevent possible damage to the property.

It was the same jubilant scene at Ring Road as crowds waving brooms filled the streets, shaking hands with motorists and congratulating each other on ACN’s victory.

Residents, mostly youths in Benin City, Edo State capital, have taken to the streets in jubilation for Youths moved round the city on bikes, cars and trucks and stormed the ACN secretariat along Airport Road.

The train later moved to the Government House, GRA, to pay a solidarity visit to Oshiomhole, who was absent.

Soldiers are patrolling the major streets of Benin, to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

- The Punch