EDO, BENIN CITY – The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has rejected the verdict of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, describing it as a “huge travesty of justice.”
In a statement issued shortly after the tribunal’s ruling, Ighodalo expressed disagreement with the judgment but reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law, vowing to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
While urging his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, Ighodalo insisted that the struggle to reclaim what he described as the “people’s stolen mandate” was far from over.
“This is not the end of our journey, but the beginning of a greater struggle for justice, democracy, and the sanctity of the people’s mandate freely conferred on my running mate, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, and I on the platform of our great Party, the PDP,” he declared.
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The PDP candidate maintained that the case was not about personal ambition but about upholding democratic principles and ensuring that Edo people’s votes count.
“I have instructed my legal team to proceed to the Court of Appeal because this is about the very essence of democracy – the right of the people to freely choose their leaders,” he stated.
Ighodalo thanked his supporters for their unwavering belief in his vision for a prosperous Edo State and assured them of his determination to pursue justice to the end.
“We remain resolute. We remain committed. And we shall not waver in our pursuit of truth and justice,” he affirmed.
The tribunal had earlier dismissed the PDP’s petition, upholding the declaration of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.
As the legal battle shifts to the appellate court, political observers anticipate heightened tensions, though Ighodalo has called for calm, urging Edo citizens to trust the judicial process.
“Long live Edo State. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Ighodalo concluded.