1 month ago
10 ARTICLE AD
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 21st September election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed his absolute confidence in the judiciary, describing it as the last hope of the common man.
Ighodalo, speaking on a television programme in Benin on Wednesday, 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 noted the legal challenges following his nomination as the PDP candidate, expressing optimism that he would obtain justice at the tribunal.
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 condemned the harassment and arrests of PDP supporters based on spurious allegations before and during the election.
He accused the All Progressives Congress in the state of colluding with the Nigeria Police Force and some compromised officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission to manipulate the election results that were in favour of him and his party.
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.”
Reflecting on his experience during the material inspection, he criticised INEC’s undue sympathy towards the APC, despite the PDP having a legitimate court order allowing the inspection of materials needed to support the filing of his petition.
He pointed out that election observers had rated the collation process poorly, and noted that the evidence proving he won the election was indisputable.
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.
