Edo 2024: Ighodalo, PDP File Petition At Tribunal, Vow To Reclaim ‘Stolen’ Mandate

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the 2024 Edo State governorship elections, Asue Ighodalo, have filed a petition at the tribunal challenging the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This was disclosed on Monday by the chairman of the PDP in Edo State, Anthony Aziegbemi.

Briefing newsmen in Benin, the Edo State capital, Aziegbemi, said the PDP is set to reclaim its stolen mandate, arguing that it is sure the tribunal would overturn the results of the September 21 election as declared by INEC.

He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the outcome of the election and also attempting to stall the court order for the PDP to inspect election materials at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Aduwawa.

The PDP chairman said, “We have begun the journey to reclaim the people’s mandate and a petition has been filed before the Edo State Election Tribunal. Against all odds, the petition has been filed as APC’s plan is for us not to successfully file the petition. The mandate given to PDP will be reclaimed.

“We have put our fingers where the problem is and the election tribunal will surely give us our mandate based on overwhelming evidence before them.”

Aziegbemi said while the PDP was busy gathering evidence to pursue its case at the tribunal, the APC and its chairman, Jarret Tenebe, were lying and spreading falsehood to actualize the evil ploy of the APC.

He stated, “As our party was busy gathering evidence for the petition, APC and its chairman, Jarret Tenebe were busy peddling lies. He lied that the PDP is disrupting activities in the INEC office forgetting that the process is in the interest of the PDP. Why should PDP now be the party to disrupt the exercise that is in its favour?

“If APC truly won the September 21st governorship election in Edo State, why are they causing confusion and problems in the INEC office? They lie without thinking it through.

“Tenebe Jarrett and the APC are the ones stealing the people’s phones and the money of POS operators. They were disrupting the process because it is not in their favour. If you won, why fight hard to stop the other person from inspecting the process? Are you stopping the people to see how you won?”

He further noted, “On the 24th of September 2024, I penned a memo to the National Headquarters of INEC in Abuja. I premised that memo on the provision of the Electoral Acts, section 65 (1C), the powers of INEC to review results after one week of declaration. The reply from INEC will shock you.

“They said in their reply that the section of the Electoral Act is for internal purposes only, not for outsiders or candidates, or party’s use on a declaration already made by returning officers.”

Aziegbemi also alleged that some PDP members arrested by the Police during the Edo election, had to pay ₦64 million cumulatively before they were granted bail.

“Before the election, most of our members were arrested by a special unit of the Nigerian Police from Abuja. It might interest you to note that most of the guys have been released as they paid cumulatively about N64 million and the police said bail is free.

“As we speak, they are still planning to arrest more of our members just to make sure we don’t get together to pursue our cause. We have taken a decision on briefing you weekly to enable you to know the happenings in the political scene.”

On his part, the Director General of the Edo State PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Mathew Iduoriyekemwen said, “Democracy gives us the constitutional right to vote for who will lead us and that constitutional right can’t be denied Edo people; that is why we have taken steps to pursue our case to a logical conclusion.”