According to a report by Arise TV, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial election, has urged Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to withdraw from the race.
This call comes in the wake of a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the PDP primaries that selected Ighodalo as their candidate.
The court ruling, delivered in Abuja by Justice Inyang Ekwo, declared the PDP primary election conducted on February 22, 2024, invalid.
The decision was based on the exclusion of 378 delegates who were legally entitled to vote. The judgment followed a suit filed by Hon. Kelvin Mohammed on behalf of the aggrieved delegates, marking a significant blow to the PDP’s campaign.
In his judgment, Justice Ekwo emphasized that the PDP violated both the Electoral Act 2022 and its own guidelines during the primary held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
These violations rendered the primary election void, prompting Senator Okpebholo to comment on the state of the PDP's internal processes.
Senator Okpebholo, in a statement released by his media office in Abuja, condemned the PDP’s actions and praised the court’s decision.
He argued that the judgment highlighted the PDP’s inability to manage its affairs lawfully, suggesting that this failure positioned the APC as the more reliable and effective choice for the Edo electorate.
"The court judgment is a clear indication that the APC is the party to beat in the upcoming governorship polls," Okpebholo stated. He called on Ighodalo to step down from the race, criticizing the influence of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the PDP’s decision-making processes.
Okpebholo pointed to various issues plaguing Edo State under PDP governance, including rising insecurity, unemployment, cultism, persistent flooding, deteriorating infrastructure, and disregard for traditional institutions. He claimed these problems underscored the need for a change in leadership.
“I welcome the Court judgment given on Thursday by a Federal High Court in Abuja. The Court has saved Edo people from another four years of pain and agony. The PDP is not a democratic party. It operates like a Mafia organization,” Okpebholo asserted.
He urged Edo residents to support the APC, promising a return to better governance reminiscent of Senator Adams Oshiomhole's tenure. Okpebholo assured that his administration would restore the state’s glory and reconnect it with the federal government to ensure Edo benefits fully from national resources and initiatives.
“Our administration is committed to bringing the good old days back. Since the exit of Senator Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State, our people have not had any reason to celebrate. That will change in September when the people will take power back through the ballot,” he promised.
Concluding his statement, Okpebholo expressed optimism about the future under APC leadership and encouraged the electorate to choose a path towards progress and stability for Edo State.