- Safiu Kehinde
The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, has charged residents and indigenes of Edo state to prepare for dark days ahead following the Supreme Court’s affirmation of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s victory at the September 2024 Edo gubernatorial election.
NPO earlier Reported the dismissal of Ighodalo’s case by the apex court which upheld Okpebholo’s victory as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and affirmed by the Edo Governorship election Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
Ighodalo had challenged the result declared by the INEC which announced Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.
Having initially approached the Edo election tribunal; the PDP governorship candidate was unsatisfied with the ruling of the tribunal which affirmed Okpebholo as the winner.
Ighodalo appealed the judgement before the Court of Appeal which also proved futile as the appellate court at its ruling on the 29th of May, reaffirmed Okpebholo’s victory.
Both the tribunal and the Appeal Court had dismissed Ighodalo’s petition over lack of merit.
The PDP candidate appealed the ruling before the Supreme Court.
In similar version, the apex court at its ruling on Thursday, dismissed Ighodalo’s case against Okpebholo, reiterating its lack of merit while affirming the APC candidate’s victory at the poll.
Reacting to the verdict in a statement issued on his official X handle, Ighodalo accepted the finality of the judgement.
He however insisted that the election was rigged, describing it as a coordinated and deliberate robbery which he alleged to have been backed by the Supreme Court.
Ighodalo expressed his disappointment with the ruling while appreciating his supporters for their solidarity with him.
“My dear people Of Edo State. 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. Coordinated. Deliberate.
“And now, tragically validated by the highest court in the land. While I will not and cannot obstruct any judicial pronouncement, no matter how flawed, I must never fear to speak truth to power.
“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 that your voice does not matter.
“That your freely given mandate can be trampled without consequence. I feel your pain. I share your anger. And I will never forget your courage.
“To every young person who saw in this moment the birth of a new Edo. To every elder who longed to see our state rise again.
“To every woman and man who prayed, campaigned, and voted. We may not have won the Office, but we won something greater. We found one another. We discovered our collective strength.” He wrote.
Ighodalo further maintained that the struggle to reclaim the state continues as he charged Edo indigenes and residence to brace themselves for absence of leadership, poverty of policy, and suffering.
“Though this painful chapter closes today, our beautiful story does not end. The struggle to reclaim the soul of our beloved State continues.
“Yes, dark days may lie ahead, The weight of this illegitimacy will, unfortunately, echo beyond the halls of the Supreme Court.
“I fear Edo will feel it in the absence of leadership, in the poverty of policy, and in the daily suffering of her people.” He said.
While encouraging the people not to retreat and be silenced, the PDP Edo governorship candidate charged Okepbholo to lead with humility and govern with conscience.
“But we are neither a fearful nor a 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 never forget.
“To those who now hold power undeserved, lead with humility. Govern with conscience. History sees what the courts may not. And one day, it will deliver its own verdict.” He added.