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Tag: ASUE IGHODALO

  • Appeal Court verdict: I am disappointed; this injustice won’t go unchallenged – Ighodalo

    Appeal Court verdict: I am disappointed; this injustice won’t go unchallenged – Ighodalo

    Mr Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate in the Sept. 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo, has said that he would not allow injustice to go unchallenged.

    Ighodalo stated this in a statement on Thursday in reaction to the Court of Appeal’s judgment which affirmed the electoral victory of Gov. Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “My good people of Edo State, today, the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment on our petition challenging the declared outcome of the September 21st, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.

    “As with the judgment of the tribunal, we have received this decision with deep disappointment, but also with unwavering resolve to continue our pursuit of justice.

    “As democrats and patriots, we remain anchored in our belief in the rule of law. But we cannot, and will not, allow injustice to go unchallenged,” he said.

    According to him, I have therefore instructed my legal team to approach the Supreme Court of Nigeria to seek redress.

    “We do so  for every voter who queued patiently with hope in their hearts, for every young person who dreams of a better Edo State, and for every Nigerian who still believes that democracy must be well practised to yield a great country.

    “The Supreme Court now bears a profound responsibility, not only to interpret the law and apply same to available facts, but to defend the democratic principles that give the law its meaning.

    “We approach the apex court with full confidence in its integrity, its independence, and its role as the final guardian of justice in our republic.

    “We believe their Lordships will consider not just the letter of the law, but the greater implications for democracy, justice, and public trust.

    “The eyes of Edo people, and indeed all Nigerians, now look up to the Supreme Court with hope,” he said.

    He said though he acknowledged the court’s pronouncement, he believed that the judgment, like that of the tribunal before it, “failed to address the grave concerns we raised regarding widespread acts of non-compliance with, and clear violations of the Electoral Act.”

    According to him, our struggle has never been about personal ambition.

    “It has always been about standing with the people of Edo State and defending their sacred right to freely choose their leaders through a credible, transparent and fair election.

    “That right was brazenly subverted on September 21st, 2024.

    “The decisions of both the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, though rendered in the name of the law, in effect ignore the will of the people and reward blatant electoral irregularities,” he added.

    Ighodalo, however, urged all his supporters to remain peaceful, vigilant and steadfast.

    “This is not the end. It is simply the next chapter in our collective struggle for truth, justice, and a bright future for our dear Edo State.

    “We remain resolute. We remain committed. We remain undaunted. And we shall not rest until the voices of our people are heard and their stolen mandate restored,” he concluded.

  • Appeal Court verdict: Ighodalo heads to Supreme Court

    Appeal Court verdict: Ighodalo heads to Supreme Court

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday, affirmed the election of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Edo and winner of the election held on September 21, 2024.

    A three-member panel of the court, in a unanimous judgment, held that the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, was unmeritorious.

    Justice Olabode-Abimbola Adegbehingbe, who delivered the lead judgment, 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.

    Justice Adegbehingbe also held that the tribunal was right to hold that the petitioners did not prove their allegations of non-compliance and over voting.

    The judge equally held that the evidence of 19 witnesses, called by the appellants at the tribunal, were insufficient to prove the allegations, adding that they failed to call relevant witnesses from the polling units complained about.

    “The case of the petitioners (appellants) was inadequately presented by calling only 19 witnesses, most of whom did not witness what happened at the polling units,” he said.

    Justice Adegbehingbe noted that 14 out of the 19 witnesses called by the respondents at the tribunal, gave evidence about what they did not witness, having not been present at the polling units when the election was held.

    He added that it was impossible for the appellants to prove over voting when they failed to tender voters register.

    In partly allowing the cross appeal filed by Okpebholo, Justice Adegbehingbe set aside the decision by the tribunal, admitting the 133 Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines tendered by the appellants in their bid to prove over voting.

    The judge said the BVAS machines were wrongly admitted having been tendered from the bar by the appellants’ legal team.

    He further held that the tribunal was in grave error when it admitted the BVAS machines that were tendered from the bar in the absence of a prior consent of parties.

    The judge said: “The condition precedent to the admission of exhibits from the bar, which is concession, was absent.

    “The 133 BVAS machines were wrongly admitted in the manner adopted by the tribunal.”

    The judge added that the admission of the BVAS machines was a miscarriage of justice.

    He proceeded to set  it aside and expunged the BVAS from the record of  the tribunal.

    Justice Adegbehingbe also struck down some part of the petition filed before the tribunal by Ighodalo and the PDP for being defective.

    Meanwhile, Ighodalo and the PDP have vowed to challenge the decision of the Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court.

    A chieftain of the PDP, who was in  court, said their legal legal team had been instructed to immediately lodge an appeal before the apex court.

  • Asue Ighodalo drags APC chairman to court over accusation of stealing billions

    Asue Ighodalo drags APC chairman to court over accusation of stealing billions

    Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the last Edo State guber election, has sued the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe following his defamatory statement that the PDP candidate stole public funds amounting to billions.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) reported that Tenebe had called out those mocking Governor Monday Okpebholo over his struggles to pronounce the ₦605 Billion Budget figure.

    Recall, Okpebholo stuttered severally while presenting the estimated 605 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year to the Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday.

    It’s confusing me,” Okpebholo said, causing noise among state lawmakers.

    However, the speaker of the assembly called for order.

    The video which made rounds on social media generated a widespread mockery from many Nigerians.

    Reacting, Tenebe, in a video shared on his Facebook claimed Okpebholo’s mistakes were due to the fact that he wasn’t a thief. 

    According to the APC chieftain, Obaseki and Ighodalo would not have made such a mistake because they were thieves and had stolen billions.

    In response, Ighodalo in a lawsuit dated December 11th, demands an apology and retraction of the defamatory statement about stealing public funds amounting to billions.

    The politician noted that failure to adhere to the letter within seven days would lead to further court action against Tenebe.

  • Edo: I’ll definitely win at the tribunal – Ighodalo boasts

    Edo: I’ll definitely win at the tribunal – Ighodalo boasts

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo is confident of winning his case at the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal.

    Ighodalo lost to Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by a vote margin of 44,393 votes in the keenly contested September 21 governorship election.

    Ighodalo made this revelation in a chat with a national TV station on Thursday.

    While he polled 247,274 votes, Okpebholo garnered 291,667 votes. Olumide Akpata, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), came a distant third with 22, 763 votes.

    He explained that his legal team has identified over 150 polling units that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was not deployed.

    “There is a lot of data, information, evidence that we have. We are fully confident that going through the tribunal, we will win the case.

    “We will regain our mandate and we are clear without any doubt that we are the winners of the election last Saturday,” he stated.

    During the show, the PDP candidate accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and police operatives of subverting the will of Edo people.

    According to Ighodalo, Edo people overwhelmingly voted for him and his party in last Saturday’s election.

    He alleged without evidence that the APC ruled the election in collaboration with electoral officials.

    “We didn’t rig. When APC and INEC saw that APC was losing woefully, they then subverted the electoral laws and the guidelines.

    “Collations are done at the polling units and then you go to the ward and then the local government collation centre and then the state. There was a jump, from ward straight to the state,” Ighodalo stated.

  • Collation of results: Too many funny things going on – Ighodalo

    Collation of results: Too many funny things going on – Ighodalo

    Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday’s governorship in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo has said there are “so many funny things” going on as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) awaits to collate results of the election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Ighodalo said this in the wee hours of Sunday when he visited the INEC headquarters in Edo State to protest, accusing the electoral umpire and the police of complicity.

    “We actually are not sure what is happening. There are supposed to have been collation in some of the local governments area in Oredo and Ikpoba. But, all of a sudden, some people came in, threw teargas and kind of drove everybody that was there outside.

    “They now insisted that all of those collations should come to the INEC headquarters. The problem is that our agents started telling us that they were not being allowed access into the INEC headquarters. So, my deputy and I came in here to find out why they are not being allowed in.

    “There are too many funny things going on all of a sudden with INEC and police complicity working together and this cannot be right for democracy in this country. They are trying to subvert the will of the people of Edo State and it will not happen,” Ighodalo said.

    Earlier, PDP had in a statement Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the party, raised an alarm of plots to invade collation centres and change results of the election overnight.

    The statement reads: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alerts of plots by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use its armed thugs to violently assault the Edo State Governorship election Collation Center, disrupt the collation process and change results from the Polling Units which have our candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo in clear lead.

    “Intelligence available to the PDP indicates that the APC is mounting pressure on the INEC Chairman and Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to suspend the collation process so as to make way for the manipulation of the INEC Portal and replace the real results from the Units with fabricated figures in favour of the APC.

    “Our Party has also been made aware that the APC is mounting pressure on the Military to withdraw from their positions so as to enable the APC convey its armed thugs to disrupt and manipulate the collation process.

    “The PDP in very strong terms cautions INEC and the APC to note that the people of Edo State already have authentic results from the Polling Units across the State and that any attempt by anybody or group whatsoever to alter the results will inflame the already charged situation with very severe consequences on perpetrators.

    “INEC must not lose sight of the violent protest that trailed the criminal attempt by the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Hudu Ari to alter the outcome of the 2023 Governorship election in that State which nearly led to the death of some INEC officials.

    “INEC and the APC must note that any attempt to change the results of the Edo State governorship election will provoke worse consequences as the people have indicated their readiness to use every means allowed in a democracy including legitimate physical confrontation, if necessary to protect their votes.

    “The PDP charges the Electoral Commission to resist the pressure by the APC and ensure that nobody tampers with the results as obtained from the Polling Units.

    “Our Party commends the military for its professionalism in defending our democracy in the Edo State governorship election and urges the Military High Command not to succumb to the pressure from the APC to withdraw from their posts and allow for the manipulation of the process.

    “The PDP again charges the people of Edo State to remain at the Coalition Center in their numbers and monitor the collation process so as to ensure that their Will as expressed in the election is affirmed”.

  • BREAKING: Oshiomhole sweeps PU for Okpebholo; Ighodalo wins own polling unit

    BREAKING: Oshiomhole sweeps PU for Okpebholo; Ighodalo wins own polling unit

    Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly (NASS), Senator Adams Oshiomhole has won his polling unit (PU) for candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports APC won at Iyamho, Ward 10, Unit 01 in Estako West local government area of the State by a wide margin where the former Edo Governor voted. While the APC claimed a total of 403 votes at the polling unit, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) managed to poll one vote.

    It was gathered that Labour Party candidate in the governorship election, Olumide Akpata recorded no vote at the polling unit.

    Similarly, the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, won his own polling unit with 200 votes. Ighodalo voted at Okaegben ward one, unit 3, Ewohimi in Esan South-East local government area. While the APC got 45 votes at the polling unit, Akpata again recorded no vote at the polling unit.

    TNG reports election officially ended at Okaegben ward one, unit 3, Ewohimi, the polling unit of Ighodalo at about 4:50 pm. Voting started late at at the polling unit at about 10:45 a.m, following late arrival of INEC Officials and election materials.

    INEC officials and election materials arrived late at Okaegben ward one, polling 3 at 10:30 a.m. and voting time had to be extended by INEC to make up for the delay.

    The INEC officials, thereafter, began cancellation of unused ballot papers, while sorting and counting of the ballots  commenced in the presence of party agents and voters who stayed behind to defend their votes.

    The Edo governorship election in Ewohimi recorded large turnout of eligible Voters, particularly among the senior citizens of the community.

    Edo election: Oshiomhole absolves APC of vote-buying allegation

    Meanwhile, Oshiomhole has absolved the APC of vote-buying allegations. The former Edo State Governor said it was laughable for the opposition to make false allegations against the APC.

    Oshiomhole said: “It is laughable when I hear this kind of allegation. Did you see anywhere they are sharing money? People turned out in large numbers to vote for us because they wanted good government.

    “During our campaign, people came out to see me not because I wanted to give them something but because of what I have done for them while I was in the office as the governor.

    “All structures that I have put in place 12, 13 years ago are still there but the ones put up by the present administration, in one year, they are washed off.

    “So our people have seen the difference. Some people do tell me that since I left the government, they haven’t seen the real presence of government in their communities”.

  • Edo 2024: Ighodalo declares campaign officially closed

    Edo 2024: Ighodalo declares campaign officially closed

    Dr Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Saturday’s Edo governorship election, has officially declared his campaign activities closed in line with the electoral laws.

    The Team Asue Media Organisation (TAMO), in a statement issued on Thursday by Erhabor Emokpae,  said all campaign activities had ceased as of Sept. 19.

    “We would like to inform the general public that the current campaign has been officially concluded; and Ighodalo has consequently directed that no activity in this regard should exceed midnight, Sept. 19.

    “After this time, any publications, advertisements, jingles, or any other promotional materials made in respect of the subject matter have not the blessing, endorsement or authorisation of Ighodalo or all that is associated with him in respect of same.

    “Please be advised, therefore, Ighodalo will not be liable or held responsible for any consequences arising from any further campaign or promotional activities or communications conducted after the campaign’s official closing time and date.

    “Ighodalo expressed profound gratitude to the good people of Edo for their overwhelming support and participation throughout the campaign.

    He urged all voters to turn out in large numbers, exercise their civic duty and remain vigilant to protect and defend their votes on election day.

    “As we close this chapter, we thank every supporter for embracing the message of ‘the pathway to prosperity for all. Together, let us ensure that our collective will is respected at the polls,” he said.

  • Edo poll: Ighodalo will continue from where I stopped – Obaseki

    Edo poll: Ighodalo will continue from where I stopped – Obaseki

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Monday declared that he had done his best for the State and that Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, would continue from where he stopped.

    Obaseki made the declaration during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rallies held at Egor and Ikpoba-Okha local governments in the state.

    Speaking at the Olua Primary School Field, Uselu, Obaseki said he had known Ighodalo for 40 years, adding that he was a very brilliant man.

    “I have done my best. Ighodalo and Ogie will continue from Nov. 12. We want progress. We want to move forward and not backwards.

    ”Looking at the people here, you see a lot of youths. I am not surprised because Egor is the home of youths. We have the University of Benin and the Benin Technical College.

    “Sept. 21 is the most important election in Edo State. Don’t make the mistake, for the sake of continuity, it must be PDP or PDP. Ighodalo is youth friendly, all his lawyers in his company are young lawyers.

    “I have known him for 40 years and his very brilliant. So, make no mistake on Sept. 21 because all the works in Egor Local Government were too important to be allowed to stop, ” he said.

    According to Obaseki, go out early, vote and protect your votes.

    Also speaking, Ighodalo promised to bring out the best in Edo youths by harnessing their potential in a very positive way for the good of all.

    ”We will work to bring out the creative potential of our youths in a way that it will benefit all.

    “It’s time to move forward. Ogie and I are very ready to work for you all. So, do not fear, do not worry, we are for you all.

    “Prosperity has come for all. Just go out on the 21st and vote for PDP and protect your votes, ” Ighodalo said.

    Also, the State PDP Chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, thanked the people of Egor for coming out enmasse to welcome them and charged them to come due the same on Sept. 21.

    At Western Boys High School Field in Ikpoba Hill, home of the running mate, Osarodion Ogie, turned to a carnival at the arrival of the governor, the governorship candidate and the campaign team

    Ogie, in his speech, challenged the people to deliver Ikpoba-Okha as they did in 2020.

    “Ikpoba-Okha you know how you delivered in 2020 but I wasn’t on the ballot but today, I am on the ballot, I leave the rest to you, ” Ogie said.

    The high point of the rally was the defection of hundreds of defectors from All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and other parties to PDP.

  • Edo guber: Ighodalo will win more than 65% votes – PDP boasts

    Edo guber: Ighodalo will win more than 65% votes – PDP boasts

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says its candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, will win not less than 65 per cent of the expected votes in the Sept. 21 governorship election in Edo.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, said this at a news conference in Abuja on the party’s preparations for the state election.

    Ologunagba said that Ighodalo, with his resonating “Prosperity for All Agenda’’, is the candidate acceptable across political parties and apolitical citizens of Edo.

    “From all credible indices across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State, the PDP candidate, Ighodalo, is coasting to a sweeping victory with not less that 65 per cent of the total votes expected at the election,” he said.

    Ologunagba said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo, were already overwhelmed with the massive support Ighodalo was enjoying ahead of the election. He, however, decried the alleged plans by some political class to derail the electoral process.

    “One of such antics was the attempt to manipulate the INEC bio-data process by fraudulently uploading emojis, pictures of foreigners, social media pictures and non-human photos as polling and collation agents.

    “This is with the intent to smuggle in hired thugs to masquerade as polling agents and trigger crisis on election day,” Ologunagba said.

    He also alleged that there were plans to instill fear in the people of the state and prevent them from exercising their civil rights on election day using some security operatives.

    Ologunagba alleged that one Mr Kingsley Osahon was arrested in Uromi, while two others, namely, Mr Odion Bright and Mr Timothy Isibor were arrested in Igueben.

    He also claimed that on Wednesday, Aug. 28, an attempt was made by some APC-controlled operatives to arrest Chief Francis Inegbeniki, who recently defected from APC to PDP.

    “It is clear that the plan is to infuse fear in Edo State, heighten tension, instigate crisis and subvert the electoral process. The PDP calls on the Inspector General of Police to immediately wade in and address the situation. We also demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all Edo citizens arrested by the security operatives in the state,” Ologunagba said.

    The PDP spokesman also demanded an immediate investigation into apprehensions in the public domain. He alleged that certain political leaders in the state had reportedly established secret cells in their houses and other locations where they were training and arming thugs for the election.

    Ologunagba said that no amount of threats, intimidation or harassment would cow or sway the people of Edo from their resolve to elect Ighodalo as the next governor of the state.

    Responding to a question on comments attributed to former Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, during the recent party primary elections in Rivers, Ologunagba said that no one was above the party.

    Wike had during the PDP state congress at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt reportedly warned PDP governors to avoid interfering in the party’s matters in Rivers.

    “What I can tell you is that nobody is above this party. It is the Peoples Democratic Party,” Responding to Wike’s comments, Ologunagba said,

    He advised the PDP governors to continue doing whatever they could do to stabilise the party, describing the forum as one of the most potent organs of the party.

    “What we know is that nobody is above this party, and we must take that to heart. It’s like justice; the wheel of justice grinds slowly but ultimately grinds well.

    “We urge our governors to do what is necessary to ensure stability in their states. The only way they can achieve stability is through performance.

    “If you compare PDP governors with governors from other parties, you will find that PDP governors have clear cases of development,” Ologunagba said.

    On whether Wike will appear before the party’s National Reconciliation or Disciplinary committees, Ologunagba said the decision was left for the committees to decide.

    Edo: “PDP will secure landslide victory in Oredo LG”

    Meanwhile, The Edo Governorship Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says its candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo will record landslide victory in Sept. 21 election in Oredo Local Government.

    Crusoe Osagie, Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the council in Oredo stated this during a news conference on Monday in Benin.

    Osagie, who is also the Special Adviser on Media Project to Gov. Godwin Obaseki, described Ighodalo as the most viable candidate contesting in the Sept. 21 poll.

    “We are just waiting for the day of the election and Edo people will massively votes for Asue Ighodalo because of the achievements of the PDP-led government.

    “We are also calling on other people in the three senatorial districts and across the 18 LGs to join us to ensure we massively vote the right person in office.

    “We also call on people across the political divides to join the moving train by supporting the PDP candidate in the interest of our people,’’ he said.

    Osagie advised the people to put aside their party differences, bury primordial sentiments and support the candidate capable of sustaining the enduring legacies of PDP.

    He said that the state needed a candidate with pedigree, intelligence and experience to pilot the affairs of Edo at this critical period in our nation’s socio-economic and political life.

    Osagie said Ighodalo was a successful businessman, who before now, had been advising the state government on economic policies since the time of former governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    He said that PDP candidate would use the debate being organised by the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Sept. 15. to showcase the full package of programmes for Edo, if elected.

  • Only Ighodalo has structure to win Edo guber — PDP

    Only Ighodalo has structure to win Edo guber — PDP

    The Oredo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council has said that the only candidate and political party with the structure to win the upcoming election are Asue Ighodalo and the PDP.

    At a press conference in Benin City on Monday, Crusoe Osagie, Chairman of the Publicity Committee for the Oredo PDP Campaign Council, highlighted that the race will involve the PDP, the All-Progressives Congress (APC), and the Labour Party (LP).

    Osagie emphasized that APC’s candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and LP’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, lack the necessary capability to lead Edo State effectively.

    “This leaves us with one viable candidate, Dr. Asuelimen Ighodalo, an accomplished lawyer who established one of the largest law firms in Africa, Banwo and Ighodalo, known for having the largest number of lawyers and paying some of the highest wages in the country.

    He has chaired numerous blue-chip companies, successfully managed businesses, and provided pro bono advice and guidance to various governments, from the time of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to the present.

    We believe he is the only candidate with the viability to lead. We urge all Edo people to support us in Oredo as we aim to secure a landslide victory for the PDP and Ighodalo. We are confident about our success in Oredo Local Government Area and call on other local government areas to join us in doing the right thing.”

    Discussing the deficiencies of other candidates, Osagie criticized LP’s Olumide Akpata, describing him as an “inexperienced private sector practitioner who has never held a government position.”

    He also noted Akpata’s lack of political sensitivity for running from Edo South when the people wanted a candidate from Edo Central.

    “He lacks political sensitivity; otherwise, he would have considered the interests of the entire senatorial district over his personal ambition.

    Edo Central Senatorial District has been excluded from governorship consideration for over twenty years and deserves representation. It’s not just about personal ambition but about equity, fairness, and justice”, he stated.

    Regarding APC’s Okpebholo, Osagie stated that Okpebholo lacks the intelligence and capability to govern Edo State.

    He said, “Despite being from Edo Central, he lacks the necessary qualities to lead. We expect our leaders to be more intelligent than us because we entrust them with our future. How can we trust someone who cannot distinguish between a zoo and a museum to lead us?

    While he may be a successful businessman, he is not suited to be the governor of our state. We cannot place the collective destiny of over four million people in his hands; therefore, he is unqualified to be our governor.”