The Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal’s verdict of April 2 has continued to generate mixed reactions from Nigerians with Mr. Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the Edo State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee, describing the ruling as a “temporary setback”.
Aziegbemi is urging party members to remain strong and resolute despite the tribunal’s decision, which upheld Governor Monday Okpebholo’s victory.
Persecondnews had reported that the tribunal on Wednesday dismissed the petitions filed by the PDP, Action Alliance, and Accord Party, citing lack of credible evidence to support their claims.
It further affirmed Okpebholo of the All Progressive Congress(APC) as the valid winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
Prior to dismissing PDP’s petition, the tribunal had earlier on Wednesday thrown out the petitions of Action Alliance(AA) and the Accord Party(AP) over the disputed poll.
In a unanimous judgment, the three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi ruled that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations of over-voting and upheld that Okpebholo secured the highest number of valid votes.
The tribunal faulted the petitioners’ evidence presentation, saying it lacked sufficient substance to support their allegations.
It affirmed that Okpehbolo had secured the highest number of valid votes in the election.
While acknowledging the tribunal’s judgment, Aziegbemi on Thursday voiced his disagreement with the ruling and reaffirmed the party’s conviction that their candidate, Ighodalo, had secured the majority of votes in the election.
The statement reads: “The Edo State Election Petition Tribunal has delivered its ruling on our petition challenging the result of the Edo State Governorship Election of September 21, 2024.
“Although we hold the judiciary in the highest esteem as a political party and respect the judgment, we completely disagree with the decision of the tribunal.
“We believe, without any doubt, that our candidate, Asuerinme lghodalo, in the election was duly elected by the majority of the voters in that election, and we are certain that we have sufficiently proved our case before the tribunal.”
He urged party members to rebound from the temporary setback, vowing to contest the ruling in the appellate court.
He added: “It is on the back of this conviction that we call on all our members to quickly rise up from the ashes of this temporary setback as we take our matter to the appellate courts.
“As firm believers in the rule of law and the ultimate superiority of right over wrong, we call on all our supporters to keep hope alive as we explore all available democratic means of enthroning the will of the people of Edo State.”
Persecondnews had reported that INEC declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, surpassing Ighodalo’s 247,655 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP and its candidate approached the tribunal, alleging non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022, among other grievances, in an attempt to contest the election results.
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