Edo Guber Race: Asue Ighodalo Rejects Tribunal Ruling, Vows to Appeal
The legal battle over the 2024 Edo State governorship election has taken a new turn as Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, has rejected the ruling of the election petition tribunal, vowing to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
The tribunal on Wednesday upheld the election of Monday Okpebholo, affirming his victory as the duly elected governor while dismissing Ighodalo’s petition. However, in a strongly worded statement, Ighodalo expressed deep dissatisfaction with the verdict, insisting that the will of the Edo people must be protected.
“Our pursuit of justice in this regard is an affirmation of our firm belief that the right of the good people of Edo State to freely choose their leaders through a credible, free, and fair electoral process must never be compromised,” Ighodalo declared.
Despite his disappointment, the PDP candidate reaffirmed his respect for the judiciary but emphasized that the ruling was far from the end of the road.
“This is not the end of our journey, but the beginning of a greater struggle for justice, democracy, and the sanctity of the people’s mandate freely conferred on my running mate, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, and I on the platform of our great party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),” he stated.
Ighodalo further revealed that he has instructed his legal team to immediately take the case to the Court of Appeal, describing the tribunal’s judgment as a “huge travesty of justice.”
“This is not about me or any single individual; it is about the very essence of democracy, the preservation of our collective right to freely determine our future, and the legacy we leave for generations unborn,” he asserted.
As Edo State watches the unfolding legal drama, political analysts predict that the battle for the governorship seat could set a critical precedent for future elections in the state. Meanwhile, Ighodalo has urged his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding as the legal process continues.
