Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has invited his opponents in the just-concluded governorship election to join hands with him to lift the state.

According to him, his opponents did not lose, but it was the people of the state that won.

Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress, APC, extended the olive branch to his challengers in a state broadcast on Monday afternoon.

The former senator came out with a landslide victory against the likes of Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Athan Achonu of the Labour Party.

The Imo helmsman delivered an acceptance speech a day after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the off-cycle poll.

The governor said that his victory on Saturday was from God, who was also responsible for his first-term victory.

“By the glory of God, yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared me the winner of the election. Since it has pleased God and Imo people to confer that honor on me, I congratulate and commiserate with my brothers who contested with me… in a democratic contest like the one on Saturday, only one person will emerge victorious,” he said.

“I congratulate and commiserate with (my) brothers who contested the election with me.

“They did not lose. I, therefore, call on all of them to come and join hands with me to build the Imo of their collective dreams…”