Edo Governorship Election: Asue Ighodalo Confident in Reclaiming ‘Rightful Mandate’ at Tribunal

Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the recent Edo State gubernatorial election, has vowed to challenge the outcome of the election at the tribunal, claiming that his mandate was “stolen.” Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Asue Ighodalo expressed his confidence in reclaiming victory through the legal process.

Asue Ighodalo alleged that over 160 polling units failed to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the election, an irregularity that he believes significantly affected the election’s outcome. He emphasized that the PDP refused to engage in vote-buying, unlike other parties, which he accused of subverting the democratic process. “We are fully confident that going through the tribunal, we will win the case,” Asue Ighodalo declared.

Election Results and Allegations of Electoral Malpractice

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, the winner of the September 21 election with 291,667 votes. Asue Ighodalo finished second with 247,274 votes, while the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Olumide Akpata, came third with 22,763 votes.

Despite the official results, Ighodalo insists that the election was fraught with irregularities. He pointed to a discrepancy in the collation process, claiming that results were manipulated as they moved from the ward level directly to the state level, bypassing local government collation centers. “There was collusion between INEC and the police to suppress the will of the people of Edo State,” Ighodalo said, asserting that his party won the election “clearly” but was deprived of victory through underhanded tactics.

PDP’s Commitment to Due Process and Justice

Asue Ighodalo reiterated the PDP’s commitment to seeking justice through the judiciary, stressing that the party has substantial evidence to prove electoral malpractice. He criticized both INEC and the APC for allegedly undermining democracy in Edo State, noting that young voters who participated in the election felt disenfranchised by the process.

“We have serious collusion by INEC and the APC working towards votes not counting,” he said, expressing frustration over the manipulation of the process. However, he remained optimistic about the tribunal’s ability to deliver justice, stating that the evidence in their possession would demonstrate that the PDP was the true winner of the election. “With the evidence we have, we will show clearly that we won the election, and the mandate of the people will be upheld.”

Asue Ighodalo Accusations of Vote Buying and Subversion of Electoral Laws

During the interview, Asue Ighodalo also addressed the issue of vote buying, accusing the APC of engaging in the practice by offering money to voters. According to Asue Ighodalo, the APC distributed cash amounts ranging from N25,000 to N50,000 to secure votes. He firmly denied any involvement in vote-buying activities by the PDP and stated that his party’s supporters actively discouraged the practice.

“Our guys went to harass those involved in vote-buying and told them they couldn’t buy votes here,” Asue Ighodalo said. He emphasized that the PDP did not need to resort to unethical tactics because “the people of Edo state were solidly with us.” He condemned the APC for what he described as the “undermining of the democratic process” through vote buying and collusion with INEC.

Rejection of Okpebholo’s Offer of Friendship

In response to Monday Okpebholo’s gesture of extending a hand of friendship following the election, Asue Ighodalo rejected the offer outright, calling the mandate “stolen.” He maintained that the will of the people had been subverted and that accepting such a gesture would be a betrayal of the trust placed in him by the voters.

“I will stay with the people of Edo State, who fully gave me the mandate of their free will, and I will go into the courts and the tribunal to reclaim our mandate and then form the government,” he said. For Asue Ighodalo, the legal battle represents not just a fight for his political career but also for the integrity of the electoral process in Edo State. He pledged to continue advocating for transparency and the protection of democratic principles in the state