The Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the 2024 Edo State governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has criticized Senator Monday Okpebholo for his “reckless” allegation made during an appearance on TVC News’ “Journalist Hangout.”
Okpebholo had claimed that “they are mopping up money to go and bribe tribunal people,” a statement Ighodalo called both false and dangerous.
In a statement, Ighodalo described Okpebholo’s remarks about attempts to bribe members of the Edo State Election Tribunal as “deeply irresponsible” and part of a calculated effort to intimidate the judiciary.
He argued that such accusations were designed to poison public discourse and undermine confidence in a legal process that may not be favorable to Okpebholo.
Ighodalo asserted, “Let it be stated unequivocally: there is absolutely no truth to Okpebholo’s insinuation. It is a blatant lie, and he knows it. The members of the tribunal, more than anyone else, also know that no such attempt has been made, would be made, nor could it ever succeed. By making such a reckless claim, Okpebholo seeks to pre-emptively discredit any judgment that does not go his way. It is the classic tactic of a sore loser—crying wolf when in reality there is none. The reality is simply that he did not win the people’s mandate.”
Ighodalo further condemned the attack on the tribunal, saying, “It is deeply troubling that a respondent in an ongoing case would seek to so undermine the integrity of the judicial panel with such baseless accusations. This is a brazen and irresponsible attack intended to intimidate the members of the Election Petition Tribunal and erode public trust in our legal institutions.”
He also pointed out the contradictions in Okpebholo’s statement, noting that while the senator claimed to trust the judiciary, he simultaneously smeared them with unfounded bribery allegations. “His statement is riddled with contradictions: on the one hand, he claims to trust the judiciary and believes they will do the right thing; on the other hand, he attempts to smear them with baseless allegations of bribery. Which is it? Either he respects the judiciary or he does not,” Ighodalo stated.
Ighodalo emphasized that Okpebholo’s public comments on the merits of the ongoing case were inappropriate and sub judice, as he had not attended any of the tribunal’s sessions. “Having failed to attend a single sitting of the Tribunal, he nonetheless went on national television to discuss matters he neither understands nor has the acumen to comment on,” Ighodalo said.
The PDP candidate concluded by calling for the condemnation of Okpebholo’s actions, stating, “This attempt to pressure the tribunal through public defamation must be condemned by all. It is dangerous, it is reckless, and it is beneath the dignity of anyone who claims to be a leader.”
Ighodalo further reminded Okpebholo that democracy is about respecting the rule of law and the will of the people. He urged the tribunal to focus on the facts and the law, rather than the baseless claims of those who refuse to accept the reality of their defeat. “Edo State deserves better. Nigeria deserves better. The judiciary must not allow itself to be dragged into the mud by those who neither understand nor respect the rule of law,” he emphasized.
