Edo PDP Candidate Asue Ighodalo Rejects Supreme Court Verdict, Calls It “Tragedy, “Betrayal of Democracy

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has rejected the Supreme Court’s judgment affirming Monday Okpebholo’s election as governor.

Ighodalo described the judgment as a “tragedy” and a “betrayal of democracy”, alleging that the electoral process was a “robbery” that was “coordinated” and “deliberate”.

Ighodalo accepted the finality of the Supreme Court’s judgment but expressed disappointment, stating that “what was delivered amounts to injustice”.

He accused the apex court of legitimizing electoral robbery, claiming that the people’s mandate was “trampled without consequence”.

The Supreme Court had earlier dismissed the appeal filed by Ighodalo and the PDP challenging the September 2024 governorship election in Edo State.

A five-member panel of justices led by Justice Mohammed Garba ruled that the appellants failed to prove their case and upheld the previous decisions of the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal, both of which had validated Okpebholo’s victory.

Ighodalo urged his supporters not to despair, assuring them that the struggle for a better Edo continues.

He warned that the people would feel the “weight of this illegitimacy” in the form of poor governance and failed policies.

He also cautioned the incoming administration to “lead with humility” and “govern with conscience”, warning that history would deliver its own verdict. This is not the first time Ighodalo has challenged the outcome of the 2024 governorship election, having previously rejected the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Abuja.