By Eseoghene Emuke
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has reacted to the outcome of the election which produced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the keenly contested election.
Ighodalo, who described the last Saturday’s poll as “shameful subversion” of the will of Edo people, noted that the outcome of the election is a temporary triumph of evil over good.
The PDP candidate stated this on Monday in a statement personally signed by him and made available to NIGER DELTA TODAY Online.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the APC candidate, Senator Okpebholo, winner of the governorship election after polling 291,667 votes to defeat other candidates.
PDP’s Ighodalo scored 247,274 votes, while Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata, finished a distant third with 22,763 votes.
But Ighodalo, reacting to the outcome of the exercise on Monday, rejected the results declared by INEC, stressing that Okpebholo’s victory will be temporary.
He thanked Edo people for defiling intimidation, harassment, arrest and other forms of oppressions to overwhelmingly vote for his candidacy during the election.
According to him, “I would like to particularly thank the good people of Edo State who defied the rains, intimidation, threats of violence, harassment, arrests and financial inducements to cast their votes for us, overwhelmingly, last Saturday, 21st September 2024. You are the true heroes of our democracy, and your sacrifices for a better Edo State will never be forgotten.
“My aspiration was not borne out of the love for power but a genuine desire to serve the people and create a Pathway to Prosperity for All in Edo State. I traveled through every ward and every Local government area, sharing this message and engaging in meaningful conversations with you.
“To all our beloved supporters, thank you for believing in this vision, for your countless hours of dedication, and for every conversation you had with people about this cause. Together, we ran a great campaign, and your overwhelming support was evident in the ballots before our progress was unjustly halted on September 21st, 2024 by people who do not mean well for you or for our state.
“That day will forever be etched in our history as one of our darkest moments, marked by the brazen theft of our mandate and the shameful subversion of the will of the people.
“Yet, in the face of this challenge, we must not be discouraged. The illusory triumph of evil over good is only temporary.
“Our journey towards a prosperous Edo State does not end here; it is just beginning. Let us remain engaged, committed, and united in our collective resolve to create a Pathway to Prosperity for All in Edo State. You did not abandon me during our campaign; and I promise you that as we face a daunting and uncertain future together, I will not abandon you.”
