Edo Governorship: PDP Rejects Tribunal Ruling

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the ruling of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

In a press release on Thursday by the PDP Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the get together described the ruling as a miscarriage of justice and a betrayal of public belief.

The tribunal had on Wednesday upheld the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo if the All Progressives Congress (APC) and threw out the petition of the PDP difficult Okpebholo’s election.

The PDP mentioned it’s regarding that the tribunal dismissed its candidate’s petition, regardless of what it described as overwhelming proof of electoral malpractice that characterised the 21 September 2024 governorship ballot.

The PDP insisted that its candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, gained the election with the best variety of legitimate votes however was denied victory by way of manipulations.

“It is extremely disturbing that regardless of the overwhelming proof and findings by the tribunal that the PDP was robbed of its clear victory by way of wrongful allocation of votes to the APC and the arbitrary cancellation of legitimate votes gained by the PDP, the Election Tribunal contradicted itself by arriving at a conclusion that’s at variance with its personal findings,” the get together mentioned.

The PDP additional warned that the tribunal’s verdict poses a critical menace to the boldness of Nigerians in democracy and the electoral adjudication course of.

It emphasised that democracy can solely thrive when the rule of legislation is upheld and judicial selections are based mostly on details, proof, and due course of.

“A tribunal of this nature should impartially apply the legislation and the physique of proof introduced earlier than it. Something wanting this undermines the democratic course of and shakes the individuals’s religion in electoral justice,” the get together added.

Stating its confidence within the judiciary, the PDP introduced that it’ll problem the tribunal’s choice on the Court docket of Appeal, the place it expects a extra conscientious judicial evaluate of the matter.

“Our get together and candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, are continuing to the Court docket of Appeal the place we consider justice can be finished, and the individuals of Edo State can have their mandate restored, “the assertion learn.

The PDP urged its supporters in Edo State to stay resolute and never lose religion within the judiciary and democracy. It assured them that the battle for justice was removed from over and that the get together would battle to reclaim the mandate freely given to its candidate.