Benin, Edo State – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Omosede Igbinedion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the Ovia Federal Constituency by-election held on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
The seat became vacant in September 2024 after the former representative, Dennis Idahosa, assumed office as Edo State’s deputy governor.
Announcing the results in Benin, the Returning Officer, Professor Clement Ighodalo, stated that Igbinedion secured a landslide victory with 77,053 votes. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Johnny Aikpitanyi, came second with 3,838 votes, while Dr. Sandra Asemota of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) trailed with 925 votes.
“I hereby certify that Omosede Igbinedion of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is declared the winner of the election,” Ighodalo said.
Igbinedion, a former House of Representatives member (2011–2015), had previously lost twice to Idahosa—first in her re-election bid and again in 2023. She defected to the APC after Idahosa became the party’s governorship candidate in 2024 and later secured the ticket for the by-election following his transition to deputy governor.
The victory strengthens the APC’s hold in Edo State ahead of future elections.
