In the aftermath of the Edo election, Ighodalo declines Okpebholo’s offer of friendship and plans to challenge the results in court. Stay updated on the legal battle ahead.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just concluded Edo State gubernatorial election, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the election, stressing that he will seek redress through the courts.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ighodalo alleged that his mandate was stolen by the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the backing of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
OBASANJONEWS reports that Ighodalo came second in the election with 247,274 votes while Okpeboro of the APC was declared the winner on Monday with 291,667 votes. Labour Party candidate Olumide Akpata garnered 22,763 votes. Ighodalo cited several problems including non-use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in over 160 polling stations, absence of proper vote counting procedures from the district to state levels and alleged collusion by INEC, the police and the APC to suppress the will of Edo voters.
He explained that his party abstains from vote buying, unlike the APC which he accused of offering voters cash incentives of between 25,000 and 50,000 naira.
READ ALSO: UPDATED: PDP Rejects Edo Election Results, Takes Case to Court”
Speaking on the next step, Ighodalo expressed his intention to take the matter to court, saying the evidence will prove that the PDP is the rightful winner of the election.
He rejected Okpeboro’s offer of friendship, saying it is not possible to accept such an offer while the mandate is still in dispute.
“I cannot accept this friendship or hand of friendship under any circumstances because the mandate has been stolen.
“I stand with the Edo people who voluntarily gave me the mandate and I will be calling on the court and the tribunal to take back our mandate and then form a government,” he said.
