The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has described the Thursday ruling of the Supreme Court upholding the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo as a betrayal of people of the State.
Ighodalo in a statement reacting to that ruling, expressed disappointment and accusing the system of betraying Edo people’s trust.
“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,” Ighodalo said.
He acknowledged that he would not obstruct any judicial pronouncement, “no matter how flawed”, but vowed to continue speaking 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,” he declared.
He urged his supporters not to lose hope despite what he described as a stolen mandate.
He then praised Edo people for their resilience, “We may not have won the office, but we won something greater. We found one another. We discovered our collective strength. Though this painful chapter closes today, our beautiful story does not end. The struggle to reclaim the soul of our beloved state continues,” he said.
Ighodalo said that the “weight of this illegitimacy” would haunt the state in poor governance and failed policies but urged Edo people not to retreat.
“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,” former Edo PDP governorship candidate said.
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