The People’s Democratic Party, Asue Ighodalo, candidate in the just-concluded Edo State governorship election, has made a bold claim that his mandate was stolen by individuals who do not have the state’s best interests at heart.
This statement comes after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress the winner of the election, with 291,667 votes compared to Ighodalo’s 247,274 votes.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ighodalo expressed his gratitude to his supporters, saying, “First, in all things, we must give thanks to God. We give thanks to God for the gift of life, for health, and for the love you all have shown me.”
He also thanked the people of Edo State who defied various challenges to cast their votes for him, describing them as “the true heroes of our democracy”.
Ighodalo emphasized that his aspiration was not driven by a desire for power, but by a genuine desire to serve the people and create a better future for Edo State. He noted that his campaign was marked by meaningful conversations with the people and a vision for a “Pathway to Prosperity for All” in the state.
However, Ighodalo’s tone turned somber as he addressed the election’s outcome, stating, “Together, we ran a great campaign, and your overwhelming support was evident in the ballots before our progress was unjustly halted on 21st September 2024 by people who do not mean well for you or our state.”
He described the day as “one of our darkest moments, marked by the brazen theft of our mandate and the shameful subversion of the will of the people.”
Despite this setback, Ighodalo urged his supporters not to be discouraged, saying, “The illusory triumph of evil over good is only temporary.”
The Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came third in the election with 22,763 votes.
