Just In: APC Takes A Shot At PDP After Ighodalo Files Shocking Petition At Edo Tribunal

Aziegbemi stated that the PDP successfully met the deadline for filing the appeal, expressing, “We managed to submit our petition against all odds.”

In the election, held on September 21, 2024, Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating the PDP candidate, Ighodalo Asue Ighodalo, who received 247,274 votes.

After Okpebholo’s victory was announced, the PDP accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC of attempting to obstruct its right to challenge the election results in court. The party pointed to significant irregularities and discrepancies in the electoral outcomes as the basis for its petition.

In response, the APC has mocked the PDP’s actions, claiming the opposition party lacks a valid mandate.

Tensions heightened last week when members of both the PDP and APC gathered at the party secretariat in Benin, trading accusations of efforts to manipulate election materials.

Aziegbemi reassured PDP members and supporters of the party’s commitment to reclaiming its “stolen mandate.” He urged the people of Edo State to remain optimistic, stating that no amount of obstruction would prevent the party from winning its case.

He declared, “We have filed our petition before the election petitions tribunal on your behalf. I assure you that the journey to reclaim our mandate has begun, and by the grace of God, your mandate will be retrieved.”

“Despite INEC acting as the political wing of the APC and denying us full access to our requests for certified true copies of all electoral materials, we managed to do what was necessary,” Aziegbemi added.

He also denied any disruption by the PDP during the inspection of electoral materials at the INEC office. “How did the PDP disrupt the inspection? Who would benefit from such a disruption? We obtained a court order for inspection; why would we want to interfere with the process?” he questioned.

Aziegbemi further mentioned that more party members had been arrested following the election, noting that those detained in connection with the killing of Inspector Akor Onuh had been released after bail was posted.

He said, “You may recall that police were arresting our members on false allegations related to SP Akor’s death. Shockingly, more arrests have occurred after the election. How low can the police go under this clearly biased Inspector-General of Police who seems to be leading the APC’s armed wing?”

In reaction, APC Publicity Secretary Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie asserted that the PDP has no existing mandate that was stolen, urging them to refrain from making comments as they cannot participate in a case while also issuing judgments.

In a statement, Uwadiae-Igbinigie emphasized, “The PDP does not possess any existing mandate that was stolen. Is it not an existing mandate that they claim was taken from them? It is the Independent National Electoral Commission that conducts and announces election results in the country, and it was the same INEC that declared the APC as the winner of the September 21 governorship election in the state.”

He continued, “When did they acquire the mandate they claim was stolen? Where did they obtain the votes that supposedly gave them this mandate? They should remain silent now as the case is sub judice. They are in court; they cannot participate in the case and also render judgment on it. Let the tribunal perform its duties to determine who won and who did not. We are prepared to meet them head-on in court.”