The 2024 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has condemned the Supreme Court judgment, for affirming the election of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Edo State.
On Thursday, a five-man panel led by Justice Mohammed Lawal heldthat the appellants could not establish their claims of election non-compliance, unlawful votes, and that Monday Okpebholo was not duly elected. .
In a statement released shortly after the ruling, Ighodalo expressed a deep sense of betrayal by the decision of the apex court.
Ighodalo alleged that the governorship election was rigged in favour of the APC candidate and incumbent governor, describing the process as a “deliberate and coordinated robbery.”
He also claimed that the institutions trusted to protect democracy had failed the people of Edo State.
While Ighodalo accepted the finality of the Supreme Court judgment, he stressed that he could not pretend that the decision amounted to justice.
He further expressed solidarity with the people of Edo State, who he said had their voices silenced and their mandate trampled.
Ighodalo vowed that the struggle to reclaim the soul of Edo State would continue, despite the painful chapter closed by the Supreme Court judgment.
Accordingto him, “Today, the Supreme Court has ruled. Though I accept the finality of its judgment, I do not and cannot pretend that what was delivered amounts to justice.
”What happened in the September 2024 Governorship Election was not a contest. It was a robbery.
”And now, tragically validated by the highest court in the land. We will not retreat. We will not be silenced. And we will never forget, ” he said.
He called on those in power to lead with humility and govern with conscience, warning that history would deliver its own verdict one day.
