Following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the contentious Edo State governorship election, the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in 2024 governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, has issued a searing final statement, condemning the judgment and alleging a grave miscarriage of justice.
In a statement titled; “Final Statement on the Supreme Court Judgement in the Edo Governorship Election Petition,” Ighodalo acknowledged the authority of the Supreme Court but made clear that its decision, in his view, did not reflect justice or the will of the people.
“Though I accept the finality of its judgment, I do not and cannot pretend that what was delivered amounts to justice,” he declared.
The September 2024 election, which saw the declaration of the ruling party’s candidate as winner, was described by Ighodalo as a “robbery”—coordinated, deliberate, and now “tragically validated” by the nation’s highest court.
Ighodalo said he shared in their disappointment, anger, and pain. He emphasized that what had taken place was not merely a political loss but a betrayal of public trust and democratic integrity.
“You came out in hope. You voted for competence, for progress, for prosperity. And now, we are told that your voice does not matter. That your freely given mandate can be trampled without consequence.”
He acknowledged the collective sacrifices made by voters, volunteers, elders, and young people who believed in the possibility of a new Edo. While conceding defeat in the legal contest, he claimed that a more profound victory had been achieved—unity, civic awakening, and a shared vision for the state’s future.
“We may not have won the office, but we won something greater. We found one another. We discovered our collective strength.”
The PDP governorship candidate warned of the consequences he believes will follow the legitimization of what he referred to as a flawed electoral process. He expressed fears of a governance vacuum, poor leadership, and increasing hardship for Edo citizens, predicting that the state would bear the burden of what he called an “illegitimate mandate.”
“The weight of this illegitimacy will, unfortunately, echo beyond the halls of the Supreme Court. I fear Edo will feel it in the absence of leadership, in the poverty of policy, and in the daily suffering of her people.”
Despite the somber tone, the statement ended with a call for resilience, unity, and ongoing civic engagement. He urged supporters not to be discouraged, vowing that the quest for good governance and accountability in Edo State would continue.
“We are neither a fearful nor a broken people. We may be wounded. But all wounds heal. We will not retreat. We will not be silenced. And we will never forget.”
In a final note directed at those who emerged victorious in the election and were affirmed by the courts, Ighodalo urged them to lead with humility and govern with conscience, warning that while the courts may be limited, “history sees what the courts may not.”
“One day, it will deliver its own verdict,” he said.