The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the ruling of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, maintaining that its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, won the September 21, 2024, election. The party has vowed to challenge the verdict at the Court of Appeal.
The tribunal, sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, upheld the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, dismissing the PDP’s petition due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
The three-man panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, ruled that Okpebholo polled the highest number of valid votes and was duly elected.
However, the PDP, in a statement on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described the ruling as a miscarriage of justice and a betrayal of public trust.
“After a thorough review of the judgment, the PDP asserts that the verdict is an absolute miscarriage of justice and a complete betrayal of the trust Nigerians, particularly the people of Edo State, invested in the Election Tribunal,” the statement read.
PDP Insists on Victory
The party insisted that Ighodalo won the election, arguing that the tribunal failed to uphold the overwhelming evidence presented before it.
“It is very disturbing that despite the overwhelming evidence and findings by the tribunal that the PDP was robbed of its clear victory through manipulations, including the wrongful allocation of votes to the APC and the illegal cancellation of valid votes, the tribunal still arrived at a contradictory conclusion,” the PDP stated.
The PDP further contended that the ruling undermines public confidence in the judiciary and democracy, stressing that electoral justice must be upheld.
“Democracy can only thrive where the rule of law is upheld, and where tribunals impartially apply the law and facts presented before them. However, consistent with our belief in the judiciary’s ability to ensure justice, our party and candidate will proceed to the Court of Appeal for a thorough judicial review.”
Urges Supporters to Remain Resolute
The PDP urged its supporters in Edo State to remain steadfast and not lose faith in the judiciary, expressing optimism that the Court of Appeal would restore what it described as the people’s mandate.
“We call on the people of Edo State to remain steadfast and not allow the verdict of the election tribunal to dampen their confidence in the judiciary and democracy as they await the restoration of the mandate they freely gave to our party and candidate,” the statement concluded
