Wike congratulates Okpebholo, urges Ighodalo to let ‘sleeping dogs lie’
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the election of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Edo State and winner of the election held on September 21, 2024.
In a judgment yesterday, a three-member panel of the appellate court unanimously held that the appeal by Asue Ighodalo, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election and his party was unmeritorious and dismissed it.
The court held that the appellants failed to show that the election tribunal erred in its decision and proceeded to affirm the judgment of the tribunal delivered on April 2.
The court, in a judgement delivered by Justice M. A. Danjuma, dismissed an appeal the PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, filed to challenge the outcome of the governorship election that was held in the state on September 21, 2024.
The appellate court held that it found no reason to dislodge the May 15 judgement of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which validated Okpebholo’s declaration as the winner of the gubernatorial contest.
It will be recalled that the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member panel dismissed, as lacking in merit, petitions by the PDP and its candidate, the Action Alliance (AA) and its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, as well as a case that was brought before it by the Accord Party (AP) and its candidate, Dr Bright Enabulele.
Dissatisfied with the result, the petitioners approached the tribunal, alleging that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Meanwhile, Ighodalo, the candidate of PDP on Thursday, vowed to take his case before the apex court.
MEANWHILE, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has advised the Ighodalo to accept the appellate court judgment.
Wike, himself, a chieftain of the PDP, said Ighodalo should, in the collective interest of Edo State, “accept the judgment and allow the sleeping dogs.”
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Wednesday, Wike congratulated the Okpebholo on his affirmation, urging him to “remain focused and committed to good governance and provision of democracy dividends to the people.”
Expressing confidence in the ability of the governor to turn the fortunes of the state around, Wike described the Appeal Court judgment as a further confirmation of the mandate freely and genuinely given to Okpebholo by the people of Edo State.
