The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has rejected the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal and announced his decision to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
The tribunal’s decision, which upheld the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, was met with strong opposition from Ighodalo and his supporters, who described it as a “huge travesty of justice.”
In a statement issued after the ruling, Ighodalo reaffirmed his commitment to upholding democratic principles and ensuring that the will of the Edo people is respected.
“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,” he said.
Ighodalo emphasised that his legal challenge is not merely a personal pursuit but a fight to protect democracy, justice, and the sanctity of the people’s mandate.
He urged his supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, stressing that the judicial process must be allowed to run its course.
“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.
“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),” he stated.
The 2024 Edo State governorship election was fiercely contested, with Ighodalo emerging as the PDP’s candidate after receiving strong backing from Governor Godwin Obaseki.
His main rival, the APC candidate, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a result that sparked controversy and legal battles.
The PDP had alleged electoral malpractices, irregularities, and voter suppression in several polling units, which formed the basis of their petition to the tribunal.
However, the tribunal ruled in favour of the APC candidate, affirming the election results as valid.
With his appeal now set for the higher courts, Ighodalo expressed confidence in the judiciary but remained determined to overturn what he saw as an injustice.
“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,” he declared.
He added, “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.”
As the legal battle continues, all eyes remain on the Court of Appeal, where Ighodalo hopes to secure a favourable ruling in his quest to reclaim what he described as the “people’s mandate.”
