The residents of Auchi occupied major streets dancing and waving the flag of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in celebration for Oshiomholes victory.

Some of the residents trooped to beer parlours offering free drinks and food to celebrate what some of them termed as a major mile-stone in the politics of the state.

Alhaji Usman Shagadi, Deputy Chairman of the ACN in the state described the victory as the people's endorsement of the good work done by the governor.

"I am delighted; Oshiomhole worked for the state and no amount of money could have persuaded the people to vote against him.

"This is our own way of compensating him for a job well done."

The member representing Etsako Federal Constituency, Alhaji Abubakar Momoh, said the victory was "a battle well fought".

He said the victory had put to an end the divisive politics of ethnicity in the state and prayed that the entire country would learn from the Edo election.

Momoh commended INEC for conducting one of the freest elections in the country, saying it should serve as a lesson to politicians to always put the peoples' interest ahead of any other consideration.

"If every election will be conducted like this, Nigeria will be among the Nations where credible elections are conducted.

"This also shows that any political office holder who does not perform will be voted out of office as people are more conscious of the performance of politicians while in office," Momoh said.

NAN reports that chieftains of the PDP in the area declined comment saying they were awaiting directives from the state office.

It would be recalled that INEC declared Oshiomhole winner of the governorship election with 477, 478otes to defeat his closest rival, the PDP candidate, (Rtd) Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere who had 144, 235 votes.

However, the Senate President, David Mark, on Sunday congratulated Mr Adams Oshiomhole on his re-election as governor of Edo, saying the victory was a reward for service to the people.

"This re-election is a reward for service. It must serve as an elixir for greater performance. You must continue to make service to your people the focal point of your administration."

In a statement in Abuja signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark advised Oshiomhole to continue to serve the people diligently.

He urged the governor to be magnanimous in victory and implored him and other contestants to join hands to build a new Edo in the overall interest of the people.

The Senate President commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the people of the state for the peaceful conduct of the election.

He commiserated with the government and people of the state over the Ologbo boat mishap which claimed some lives in the cause of the election on Saturday.

While, Mr Martin Osakwe, the agent of Peoples Democratic Party (NAN) in Saturday's governorship election in Edo, has congratulated Gov. Adams Oshiomhole (ACN) for his re-election.

Osakwe said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin on Sunday that "as a person, I congratulate the declared winner. The party hierarchy will make a formal statement."

Osakwe commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a job well done and the security agents for their work in the election.

Meanwhile, residents of Benin City defied the morning rain and came into the streets in large numbers to jubilate over the re-election of the governor.

NAN reports that jubilant crowds held brooms, the symbol of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), dancing and sweeping the streets.

Motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, also displayed brooms as they made brisk businesses major streets of the city, shouting 'Oshio Baba.'