Prince Kassim Afegbua, a former Commissioner for Information in Edo state on Tuesday said immediate past governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki has abandoned Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to his fate at the ongoing Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Asue and his party, the PDP are challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’ (INEC)’s declaration of Okpebholo as governor. In the September 21 governorship election.
According to INEC, Okpebholo secured a total of 291, 667 votes to emerged winner, while Ighodalo came second with a total of 247, 655 votes.
But, the petitioners disagreed with INEC alleging over-voting and wrong computation of results at the collation centres.
In a statement titled ‘Edo Tribunal: PDP And Their Mind Game’, Afegbua, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said Asue and the PDP are creating mind conjectures to give an erroneous impression that they won the governorship election.
“The ante is now upped! No doubt, the Peoples’ Democratic Party–PDP- has intensified it’s media game to whip up petty sentiments to give credibility to their plea. They are now creating mind conjectures that would seem to give the impression that Asue Ighodalo and the beleaguered PDP were the victors in that free and fair election of 21 September 2024. Suddenly, Asue Ighodalo, who was vaunted as the boardroom maestro, has become a scavenger for votes, using the Tribunal as his torch and rake. Is it not clear to him by now that he needs to make his way back to his boardrooms?”
“Edo election was a leveler. It leveled Asue Ighodalo and Godwin Obaseki. Albeit Godwin has abandoned the struggle for Asue, to bring the outing to a close, alone. The tranquility and serenity that attended Governor Monday Okpebholo’s victory signposted the people’s acceptance of him”.
“Asue, now battling with seen and unseen forces, is left with no other option but to pretend like he thinks he won; for whatever it is worth. Or, is he lost as to how he would recoup his expenditure on the expedition, and cannot explicate to himself that being the executive Governor of Edo State must be excluded from the expanse of the options he has? Could it be that some boardroom sharks are waiting for him with cudgels in hand, because of the loss they may have suffered and he has to show that they were cheated? As we all know how consortium investments go. They may currently recognize the outlay as doubtful but not bad yet.
“Did they not get an insurance? Or is the insurance company bringing to their attention a caveat which indemnifies them; too many things to ponder arising from this journey Asue has decided to embark on, even while in the garbage disposal”.
“After each appearance at the Tribunal, the PDP and their social media termites would rush to press to give their own cockeyed interpretations of the proceedings. Most times, they report what will suit the bulbous ego of their followers, trying hard to create the impression that there is still hope for their candidate. I have never seen before now, a situation where a petitioner waited for respondent’s witnesses to make meaning of their own case. The PDP claims that the election results were flawed, but have nothing cogent to prove and or argue their case. Their reverse witnesses further crumbled their claims, leaving them suddenly clutching at flotsam to stay the course. How disingenuous? “.
“Is this whole exercise to suggest that Asue cannot make his way back to the boardrooms? As it is looking like a waste of our time. The matter is interesting, but the marshaling and witnesses are weak, flaccid and uninspiring; well below de- minimis. All I see is ennui arising from the shallowness of their grounds. I praise the judges, and pray that God gives them strength, patience and awakeness to stay the course of this watery plea”.
“Also, may God help Asue to endure his feet or move on to new expeditions, that we may all have peace; rather than wasting precious time and other resources on trying to upturn a mandate that was validly given to Senator Okpebholo. Asue Ighodalo should bow out honorably, for he has no case. Edo people have since moved on, but Asue Ighodalo’s contestation is causing needless distractions. Okpebholo has since settled down for business, he needs some quiet”.
