Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the September 2024 Edo State election, has said he feels completely let down by the judgment handed down by the Supreme Court on Thursday.
Reacting to the decision, Ighodalo noted that although he respects the final authority of the court, he finds it hard to see the ruling as justice being served. In a personally signed statement released in Abuja, he described the ruling as heartbreaking and a painful end to what he sees as a stolen mandate.
“My dear people of Edo State, today, the Supreme Court has ruled,” Ighodalo began in his statement. “What happened in the September 2024 Governorship Election was not a contest. It was a robbery. Coordinated. Deliberate. And now, tragically validated by the highest court in the land.”
Ighodalo stressed that while he cannot interfere with any court decision, he also refuses to remain silent in the face of what he sees as injustice. He noted, “While I will not and can not obstruct any judicial pronouncement, no matter how flawed, I must never fear to speak truth to power.”
He expressed deep disappointment, saying the outcome of the election and the court’s decision had not only betrayed him but also the people of Edo who came out in large numbers to vote for change.
“Not just by those who rigged the process, but by the very institutions we trusted to protect our democracy,” he said. “You came out in hope. You voted for competence, for progress, for prosperity. And now, we are told that your voice does not matter.”
Ighodalo thanked supporters across the state — from young people who had faith in a new era to elders and community members who dreamed of a better Edo. He assured them that despite losing the legal battle, the bond created during the campaign remains strong.
“We may not have won the office, but we won something greater. We found one another. We discovered our collective strength. Though this painful chapter closes today, our beautiful story does not end,” he added.
Looking ahead, Ighodalo said he remains committed to fighting for the state’s future. “The struggle to reclaim the soul of our beloved state continues. Yes, dark days may lie ahead… but we are neither a fearful nor a broken people.”
He also directed a message to the declared winner of the election, Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging him to govern with honesty and a sense of responsibility.
“To those who now hold power undeserved, lead with humility. Govern with conscience. History sees what the courts may not. And one day, it will deliver its own verdict,” Ighodalo concluded.
