Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has rejected the judgement of the Election Petition Tribunal which nullified all petitions challenging the declaration of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as winner of the election.
The Tribunal which sat in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, had on Wednesday night dismissed all petitions brought by three opposition parties and their candidates against the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The PDP candidate, Ighodalo, in a statement, expressed displeasure over the outcome of the judgment of the Tribunal.
Although he expressed expressed confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, he, however stated that the Tribunal was just the beginning of a greater struggle for Justice and democracy.
Read the full text of his statement:
“While we all may not agree with the verdict, we however remain steadfast in our belief that the rule of law must remain the bedrock of our democracy.
“Our pursuit of justice in this regard is an affirmation of our firm belief that the right of the good people of Edo State to freely choose their leaders through a credible, free and fair electoral process must never be compromised.
“As an avowed democrat, I respect the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, and I urge all of you, our dear good people of Edo State, to remain peaceful, calm and law-abiding in the aftermath of this judgement.
“However, let it be clear: 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 People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“From the very beginning, your massive show of support, sincere love and belief in our shared vision for a prosperous Edo State have been the driving force behind this journey.
“For us, it has never been about the realisation of a personal ambition but about our conviction to create a clear pathway to prosperity for all Edo people while upholding the foundational values of democracy, justice, and the will of the people.
“I have, therefore, instructed my legal team to proceed to the Court of Appeal to challenge this decision which we consider a huge travesty of justice.
“This is not about me or any single individual; it is about the very essence of democracy, the preservation of our collective right to freely determine our future, and the legacy we leave for generations unborn.
“We remain resolute. We remain committed. And we shall not waver in our pursuit of truth and justice,” Ighodalo said.
He, however, urge his supporters to be peaceful and law abiding.
