Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, has strongly criticized the Supreme Court’s decision upholding Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected governor.
The apex court, in a judgment delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Lawal, dismissed the PDP’s appeal, stating that the petitioners failed to prove allegations of electoral irregularities, unlawful votes, and non-compliance with electoral laws.
In his response to the ruling, Ighodalo described the verdict as a painful betrayal, claiming that the September 22, 2024 election was marked by what he called a “deliberate and coordinated robbery,” though he provided no evidence to support the accusation.
“Like many of you, I feel deeply betrayed—not only by those who manipulated the election, but also by the institutions we relied upon to safeguard democracy,” he said. “You voted for competence and a better future, but now you’re being told your vote didn’t count. I feel your pain, share your frustration, and deeply admire your courage.”
Despite the court’s decision, Ighodalo urged his supporters not to lose hope. “We are not a broken people. We may be hurt, but healing will come. Let us make this promise: we will not back down, we will not be silenced, and we will not forget.”
He concluded by acknowledging the finality of the Supreme Court’s judgment but insisted that it did not equate to justice.
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