The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe, has declared that no mandate was stolen from seven of the 18 parties that participated in the September 21, 2024 governorship election, which filed petitions at the election petitions tribunal in Benin.
Tenebe, yesterday in Benin, after the adjournment till tomorrow (Wednesday), at the sitting of the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member tribunal, expressed optimism that Edo APC and its governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, now Governor, would emerge victorious.
The parties that filed petitions at the tribunal were Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Accord (A), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Action Alliance (AA), which wanted their candidates to be declared winner of the keenly-contested poll.
Edo APC chairman said: “We are fully prepared to confront PDP and its standard bearer, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, with authentic facts and figures.
‘’The September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State was free, fair, transparent and credible, with the residents of Edo decisively choosing Senator Monday Okpebholo as their governor. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed this by declaring him the winner with 291,667 votes—a clear victory over the PDP and other contenders.
“Ighodalo’s decision to proceed to the tribunal is his right, but we believe it will amount to nothing more than an academic exercise. We in the APC have no fear. We will still emerge victorious.
“While lawyers, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), may see this as an opportunity to cash in on the prolonged litigation, Edo APC remains confident that the tribunal will uphold the mandate freely given to us by the good people of Edo State.
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“We assure our teeming supporters and well-meaning Edo residents that the tribunal’s distraction will not deter us from focusing on delivering the developmental promises of Senator Okpebholo. APC is ready, and truth will again prevail.”
The Chairman of the Media and Publicity Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council during the 2023 general election, Prince John Mayaki, has described the petition filed by PDP and Ighodalo as poorly designed, miserable and like someone chasing shadows.
Mayaki, yesterday in Benin, urged Edo residents and all APC loyalists to remain calm.
He said: “PDP does not have a case, but merely chasing shadows. APC won the governorship election in Edo State squarely. It is better for PDP and Ighodalo to congratulate the winner, Senator Okpebholo, in the spirit of sportsmanship and join in the task of moving the state forward.
“I want to thank the good people of Edo State for the resounding mandate they graciously gave to the APC and its candidate, who has done so much in such a very short time. In a little over two months in office, Senator Okpebholo has recorded great feats.
“Edo governor’s achievements in such a short time indicate that great things will be achieved in the days and years ahead. The leaders and members of our great party worked hard for the victory they are enjoying, and nothing will reverse it, because the PDP has no case in court.”