Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State says the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the September 21 election, Asue Ighodalo, and the opposition party will fail in their bid to overturn his electoral victory at the Appeal Court.
DAILY POST reports that on Wednesday, the Edo State governorship election petition tribunal affirmed Okpebholo as the elected governor of the state and dismissed Ighodalo’s petition.
The PDP candidate, who rejected the tribunal’s ruling, said he respects the judiciary but noted that Edo people’s right to credible elections must not be compromised.
He also said his legal team has been mandated to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
Speaking, however, on Friday during a celebration hosted by his supporters, Okpebholo boasted that he would win at the Appeal Court and even at the Supreme Court.
According to him, the opposition party is wasting money on court cases, adding that his mandate cannot be hijacked.
“The opposition party has been talking and shouting, but Edo people spoke very clear and loud with their votes on September 21, 2024.
“Edo people voted for the right person in Senator Monday Okpebholo. The people will speak again when the time is right.
“We have defeated them at the tribunal, and they said they want to appeal the ruling. If they like, let them appeal and even get to the Supreme Court. We will defeat them,” Fred Itua, spokesperson to the governor, said in a statement.
In 2024, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Okpebholo of the APC as the winner after he polled 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo, his closest challenger, who scored 247,274 votes.
