Edo PDP, Ighodalo Reject Tribunal, Head to Appeal Court

Benin City, Nigeria —   The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, have rejected the verdict of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, vowing to appeal the decision.

In a statement on Wednesday, PDP State Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, described the ruling as a “huge travesty of justice,” asserting that the party remains convinced that Ighodalo won the election. He reaffirmed PDP’s respect for the judiciary but insisted the tribunal’s decision was flawed.

“We have absolute confidence that our candidate, Asue Ighodalo, was duly elected by the majority of Edo voters. We sufficiently proved our case before the Tribunal and will now take our quest for justice to the Court of Appeal,” Aziegbemi stated.

Similarly, Dr. Ighodalo issued a separate statement rejecting the tribunal’s ruling while reaffirming his faith in the judicial process. He urged supporters to remain peaceful, emphasizing that the legal battle to reclaim what he termed the “people’s stolen mandate”bwas far from over.

“This is just the beginning of a larger fight for justice and democracy,” Ighodalo declared. “Our struggle is about more than personal ambition—it’s about ensuring the people’s votes truly count.”

He confirmed that his legal team had been instructed to proceed to the Court of Appeal, expressing confidence in the judiciary’s ability to uphold democratic principles.

Thanking his supporters for their unwavering belief in his vision for Edo State, Ighodalo assured them of his determination to see the case through.

“We remain steadfast in our pursuit of truth and justice. This journey is not over,” he affirmed.

The tribunal, which sat in Abuja, had earlier dismissed PDP’s petition and upheld the electoral victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), affirming him as duly elected.

As legal proceedings shift to the appellate court, political analysts anticipate heightened tensions, though Ighodalo has urged restraint, calling on Edo people to trust the judicial process.

By Taiwo  Olatinwo | April 3, 2025