Following the conclusion of the 2024 Edo State governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his supporters, assuring them that their efforts and sacrifices will always be remembered.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that Ighodalo finished in second place with 247,274 votes, trailing behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, who secured a total of 291,667 votes. The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Olumide Akpata, finished third with 22,763 votes.
In a statement acknowledging the election results, Ighodalo described the outcome as a “theft of mandate” but praised his supporters for their dedication. He stated, “You are the true heroes of our democracy, and your sacrifices for a better Edo State will never be forgotten.”
Reflecting on the journey, Ighodalo added that the overwhelming support he received was evident in the ballots, despite what he described as an “unjust halt” to their progress on September 21st, 2024, by forces not acting in the best interest of the state.
Read his full statement below:
“My good people of Edo State,
First and foremost, we must give thanks to God for the gift of life, health, and the love you have all shown me. I am deeply grateful to everyone who stood by us throughout this remarkable journey.
I especially want to thank the resilient people of Edo State who, despite the rains, intimidation, threats of violence, harassment, arrests, and attempts at financial inducement, courageously cast their votes for us on September 21st, 2024. You are the true heroes of our democracy, and your sacrifices for a better Edo State will always be remembered.
My desire to contest was not driven by a quest for power but by a genuine commitment to serve the people and create a Pathway to Prosperity for All in Edo State. Throughout our campaign, I travelled across every ward and local government area, sharing this vision and having meaningful conversations with you.
To all our dedicated supporters, thank you for believing in this vision, for your countless hours of dedication, and for every effort you made to spread our message. Together, we ran an exceptional campaign, and your overwhelming support was visible in the ballots before our progress was unjustly disrupted by those who do not have our state’s best interests at heart.
September 21st will forever be etched in our history as a day marred by the brazen theft of our mandate and blatant subversion of the will of the people.
However, we must not be discouraged by this setback. The perceived victory of wrongdoing is often temporary. Our journey toward building a prosperous Edo State is just beginning. Let us stay engaged, committed, and united as we work towards creating a Pathway to Prosperity for All. You stood by me during the campaign, and as we face this uncertain future together, I promise you – I will not abandon you.
God bless the people of Edo State.
God bless the people of Nigeria.
Thank you all.”
