The 2024 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has condemned the Supreme Court judgement which affirmed the election of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of the Niger Deltan State.
On Thursday, a five-man panel led by Justice Mohammed Lawal held that the appellants could not establish their claims of election non-compliance, unlawful votes, and that Monday Okpebholo was not duly elected. The appeal was dismissed for lacking merit.
Shortly after the ruling, Ighodalo said he felt a deep sense of betrayal by the decision of the apex court, arguing that what played out on September 22, 2024, was a ‘deliberate and coordinated robbery.’
He alleged, without providing evidence to back up his claim, that the governorship election was rigged in favour of the APC candidate and incumbent governor.
“Like you, I feel a deep sense of betrayal. Not just by those who rigged the process, but by the very institutions we trusted to protect our democracy. You came out in hope. You voted for competence, for progress, for prosperity. And now we are told your voice does not matter … I feel your pain, I share your anger. And I will never forget your courage,” he stated.
“We are neither a fearful nor broken people. We may be wounded. But all wounds heal. So let this be our vow. We will not retreat. We will not be silenced. And we will not forget.”
Ighodalo stressed that while he accepted the finality of the Supreme Court judgment, “I do not and cannot pretend that what was delivered amounts to Justice.”