The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the recent Edo State governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed dissatisfaction with the election results and plans to challenge the outcome in court.
During an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, Ighodalo claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC), with the help of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stole his mandate.
Ighodalo finished second in the election, securing 247,274 votes, while the APC’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo, was declared the winner with 291,667 votes. The Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata, garnered 22,763 votes.
Ighodalo pointed to several irregularities, including the failure to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in over 160 polling units, improper collation procedures, and alleged collusion between INEC, the police, and the APC.
He also accused the APC of engaging in vote-buying, claiming they offered voters between ₦25,000 and ₦50,000 in cash incentives, unlike his party, which he stated refrained from such practices.
Ighodalo revealed his intention to take the matter to the election tribunal, confident that the evidence will prove the PDP’s rightful claim to victory.
He also dismissed Okpebholo’s offer of friendship, insisting that he cannot accept such gestures while the mandate is being contested. Ighodalo pledged to stand by the people of Edo State and pursue legal action to reclaim what he believes is his rightful mandate.
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