Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, has declared his determination to employ every lawful avenue to reclaim what he believes is his rightful victory at the polls.
Speaking during a live radio broadcast in Benin, Ighodalo expressed his unwavering confidence in the judiciary, which he regards as the ultimate refuge for the common citizen.
Despite widespread skepticism, he emphasized that, with 40 years of legal experience, his faith in the judicial system’s capacity to rectify wrongdoings remains steadfast.
He acknowledged that he would respect the Supreme Court’s final decision, should it rule against him, but he remains optimistic based on the evidence he has gathered and the expertise of his legal team, asserting that they are poised to win the ongoing court case.
Ighodalo recounted the numerous legal challenges he faced during his candidacy, stating, “I triumphed in all 15 cases that were filed against me from the primary elections. Therefore, my confidence in the judiciary is intact. It is, without a doubt, the last hope of the common man.”
Reflecting on his experience during the material inspection phase, he criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he termed an inappropriate bias towards the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially when the PDP had a valid court order to inspect materials crucial to his petition.
He accused INEC, the police, and the APC of colluding to obstruct his and the PDP’s efforts to file their petition, fully aware of the time-sensitive nature of the process.
Ighodalo specifically called out the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and the Commission’s Legal Officer for employing various delaying tactics and creating obstacles.
He cautioned that if the electoral fraud witnessed in Edo persists without rectification, it poses a significant threat to democracy in Nigeria.
He expressed his gratitude to the people of Edo for their support and urged them not to be provoked by the actions of individuals who do not have their best interests at heart.
