By Kolawole Ojebisi
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 21st September election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has said the outcome of the election is not the true reflection of people’s will.
Ighodalo claimed that some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) colluded with the Police and INEC officials to rig the results of the election against him.
He, however, said he would reclaim his mandate through the Court, stressing that he has absolute confidence in the judiciary, which he described as the “last hope of the common man”
Ighodalo said this while speaking on a television programme in Benin on Wednesday.
He noted that he has a bank of good memories to draw from when it comes to the judiciary redressing injustice or upholding justice citing the legal challenges following his nomination as the PDP candidate,
Ighodalo stated that, despite public perception, his 40 years of experience as a lawyer have reinforced his unwavering faith in the judiciary’s ability to correct any injustice.
He said: “I won all 15 cases brought against me from the primary election. So, I cannot say I don’t have faith in the judiciary. I certainly do. It remains the last hope of the common man.”
He added: “Some APC chieftains, in collaboration with compromised INEC staff and police officers, subverted the will of the people. They are enemies of democracy in Nigeria. I will use every lawful and legitimate means to retrieve and reclaim the mandate from those who shamelessly stole it.”
Ighodalo dismissed claims that the PDP lost the election due to internal conflict, describing such assertions as an afterthought by APC sympathisers to justify the electoral malpractice that occurred on 21st September in Edo State.
When asked if he would accept the court’s verdict should it not align with his expectations, he responded that, if the Supreme Court eventually rules otherwise, he would abide by the decision. However, he stressed that, based on the evidence gathered and the expertise of his legal team, he was confident of winning the case currently in court.
He added: “Do you congratulate a thief who has come to your house and stolen your goods? It’s all propaganda. Didn’t you hear or read that I was preparing to run for the Senate? They are the worst propagandists in this country. Some of them speak before they even think.”
Ighodalo warned that if electoral malpractice, such as that witnessed in Edo, continues, democracy in the country will be at risk of extinction.
He expressed gratitude to the people of Edo for their support and urged them not to be provoked by the actions of those who do not have their best interests at heart.
Recall that Monday Okpebholo of the APC won the election by polling 291,667 while Ighodalo garnered 247,274 votes, and the Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came distant third with 22,763 votes
