By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja
Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 2024 governorship election in Edo State, has expressed deep disappointment over the Supreme Court’s judgment delivered on Thursday, describing it as a betrayal of justice.
While acknowledging the finality of the apex court’s decision, Ighodalo made it clear that he could not pretend the ruling was just. “I do not and cannot pretend that what was delivered amounts to justice,” he stated in a personally signed statement.
Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court dismissed Ighodalo’s appeal challenging the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The court ruled that the PDP and its candidate failed to substantiate their claims of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and allegations of over-voting.
Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, delivering the lead judgment, resolved four out of the five issues raised against Ighodalo. The court concluded that the petition lacked merit and substance. It also ordered the PDP, INEC, Okpebholo, and the APC to bear their respective legal costs.
Ighodalo’s Reaction
In his emotional response, Ighodalo accused the system of failing the people of Edo State:
“My dear people of Edo State, today, the Supreme Court has ruled.
“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.
I will not obstruct a judicial pronouncement, but I must speak truth to power. I feel a deep sense of betrayal—not just by those who manipulated the process, but by institutions we once trusted to safeguard our democracy.”
He expressed solidarity with voters who supported his candidacy:
“You came out in hope. You voted for competence, progress, and prosperity. Now we’re told 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.”
Reflecting on the broader meaning of the campaign, he added:
“We may not have won the office, but we won something greater—we found each other. 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.”
Ighodalo warned that the consequences of what he described as an “illegitimacy” would soon be evident:
“I fear Edo will feel it—in the absence of leadership, in policy failures, and in the daily suffering of her people. But we are neither fearful nor broken. We may be wounded, but wounds heal.”
He concluded with a call for perseverance:
“Let this be our vow: we will not retreat. We will not be silenced. And we will never forget.”
A Word to Governor Okpebholo
Addressing the winner of the election, Ighodalo said:
“To those who now hold power undeserved—lead with humility. Govern with conscience. History sees what the courts may not. One day, it will deliver its own verdict.”
Governor Okpebholo Responds: “This Is a Mandate for Unity and Progress”
In a separate statement, Mr. Fred Itua, spokesperson for Governor Monday Okpebholo, welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision affirming the governor’s election as a “landmark judgment” and a validation of the will of the people.
“This definitive verdict is not merely a legal triumph—it is a reaffirmation of the sacred mandate freely given by the people of Edo State,” the statement read.
Governor Okpebholo expressed gratitude to the judiciary for its integrity and to the people of Edo State for their support and patience throughout the legal process.
He emphasized that the judgment marked not a personal victory, but a collective one:
“This is a shared triumph for every citizen of Edo, regardless of political, ethnic, or religious affiliation.”
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to good governance, pledging to focus on key areas including infrastructure, security, education, agriculture, healthcare, youth empowerment, and job creation.
In a spirit of reconciliation, Governor Okpebholo extended an olive branch to his opponents:
“The elections are over. The real work of governance and healing must begin. I invite political leaders across party lines to rise above division and help build a greater Edo State.”
He encouraged constructive criticism, as long as it came from a genuine place of concern for the state’s future:
“Edo belongs to all of us. Let’s set aside differences and march forward—united in purpose, anchored in peace, and driven by a shared vision.”
The governor concluded with a hopeful vision:
“Let history remember this as the moment Edo chose collaboration over conflict, vision over vendetta, and service over self.”
