Edo poll: Again, APC, PDP trade words over tribunal judgment
The Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress on Thursday, again, reignited a war of words over the judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered on Wednesday, affirming the victory of APC’s Governor Monday Okpebholo.
While the PDP rejected the judgment as a violation of judicial impartiality, the APC hailed it as a reaffirmation of the people’s will.
On Wednesday, the tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the PDP’s petition and upheld the victory of Governor Okpebholo of the APC in the September 21, 2024, election.
The tribunal said the petitioners could not prove the allegation of over-voting, thus affirming that Okpebholo scored the most valid votes in the election.
It faulted the allegations brought before it by the petitioners against the victory of Okpebholo.
The ruling has since drawn mixed reactions, with the PDP and its candidate, Asuerinme Ighodalo, vowing to appeal it, while the APC applauded the judiciary for what it described as a landmark judgment.
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, maintained that its candidate won the September 21, 2024 election and described the tribunal’s judgment as a breach of judicial principles.
The party stated that it would appeal, believing that the Court of Appeal would do a thorough judicial review to ensure justice for the people of Edo State.
“The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, after a thorough review of the judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, asserts that the verdict is an absolute miscarriage of justice and a complete betrayal of the trust Nigerians, particularly the people of Edo State, invested in the election tribunal.
“The PDP insists that with the avalanche of evidence as properly presented and also duly admitted by the tribunal, it was clear that its candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, won September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election, having scored the highest number of valid votes cast in the election.
“It is very disturbing that despite the overwhelming evidence and findings by the tribunal that the PDP was robbed of its clear victory at the election, through manipulations including wrongful allocation of votes to the All Progressives Congress, arbitrary and illegal cancellation of valid votes won by the PDP, the election tribunal contradicted itself by coming to a conclusion that is at variance with its own findings,” the statement read.
The opposition party stated that the ruling by the tribunal posed a significant threat to the trust Nigerians had in democracy and the handling of electoral disputes.
“In the meantime, the PDP calls on the people of Edo State to remain resolute and not allow the verdict of the election tribunal to dampen their confidence in the institution of the judiciary and democracy in Nigeria as they await the restoration of the mandate they freely gave to our party and candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo at the election,” the statement read.
The Edo State chapter of the PDP also urged party members to rise from the temporary setback of the tribunal judgment, as it vowed to appeal the ruling.
The Chairman of the state PDP Caretaker Committee, Tony Aziegbemi, in a statement on Thursday, stated that the party disagreed with the tribunal ruling which upheld the election victory of Okpehbolo.
He said the party believed that its candidate was duly elected by the majority of voters at the polls and would take the matter to the appellate court.
“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 in the election, Asuerinme Ighodalo, 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.
“It is on the back of this conviction that we call on all our members to quickly rise from the ashes of this temporary setback as we take our matter to the appellate court,” the statement said.
The PDP caretaker committee chairman, however, asked members to keep the hope alive.
The APC, however, commended the tribunal for affirming the victory of Okpebholo in the governorship election.
In a statement on Thursday, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the judgment also served as a confirmation of the will of the people of Edo State.
The APC expressed confidence that the victory would motivate Okpebholo to continue delivering good governance and the benefits of democracy to the people of the state.
“This landmark judgment validates the overwhelming support of the Edo State electorate for APC’s candidate in the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.
“It also stands as an affirmation of the popular will of the good people of Edo State.
“We applaud the judiciary for its well-reasoned decision in the matter, underscoring its independence, professionalism and commitment to strengthening democracy in our country,” it said.
The party also praised the people of Edo State for their overwhelming support of the APC in the recent election, as well as for their patience and continued backing throughout the legal proceedings.
