Former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has revealed his disappointment with the Supreme Court docket’s ruling that upheld Senator Monday Okpebholo because the legitimately elected governor of Edo State.
In an announcement launched on X shortly after Thursday’s verdict, Obaseki expressed gratitude to the folks of Edo State and Nigerians for his or her assist.
He said that the Peoples Democratic Social gathering candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, alongside along with his working mate, Osarodion Ogie, have been the true winners of the governorship election performed on September 21, 2024.
“I’m profoundly grateful to the great folks of Edo State and Nigerians for his or her overwhelming assist for the victory, which we imagine our occasion, the Peoples Democratic Social gathering, PDP, its candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo and his working mate, Osarodion Ogie, gained,” Obaseki said.
The governor identified that the PDP sought justice by way of each accessible authorized avenue beginning with the Election Petition Tribunal, shifting to the Court docket of Attraction, and in the end reaching the Supreme Court docket pushed by their agency perception that the election outcomes had been manipulated.
“However sadly, and most surprisingly, all of the courts have dominated in opposition to us,” he stated.
Obaseki acknowledged the binding nature of the decision regardless of robust disagreement.
“Though we strongly disagree with the choice of the Supreme Court docket, as adherents to the rule of legislation, we’re certain by their verdict,” he stated.
Nevertheless, he cautioned that the best way the election was performed and subsequently upheld by the courts may pose a risk to Nigeria’s democracy.
“We wish to warning that the long-lasting method by which the Edo election was manipulated, coupled with the judicial validation it has acquired, portends grave hazard for Nigeria’s democracy,” he added.
The governor urged for religion and perseverance amongst Edo folks, saying, “As folks of religion, we depart our issues in God’s palms, trusting that solely He is aware of the suitable time and method to ship divine justice and redemption to our folks.
“I encourage our folks to maintain hope alive as we persist within the battle to redeem our fatherland,” he stated.
The Supreme Court docket, earlier on Thursday, upheld the election of Okpebholo, dismissing the attraction filed by PDP’s governorship candidate, Ighodalo.
A five-member panel of the apex court docket, in a unanimous determination delivered by Justice Lawal Garba, dominated that the appellants didn’t show their claims of over-voting, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and different electoral irregularities.
The court docket dominated that Ighodalo didn’t adequately show his claims, noting that he contested outcomes from merely 395 out of the 4,519 polling models and introduced 19 witnesses whose testimonies didn’t assist his case.
Justice Garba said that there was no convincing proof to overturn the selections of the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court docket of Attraction, which had each affirmed Okpebholo’s victory.
