The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly rejected the ruling of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, asserting that its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, was the rightful winner of the September 2024 election.

In a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said it reached this conclusion after a comprehensive review of the tribunal’s judgment.

Describing the verdict as “a gross miscarriage of justice” and “a betrayal of the confidence reposed in the tribunal by Nigerians, especially the people of Edo State,” the party expressed strong dissatisfaction with the outcome.

The PDP argued that overwhelming evidence presented and admitted by the tribunal clearly showed that Dr. Ighodalo secured the majority of valid votes in the September 21, 2024, election, affirming his legitimate victory.

“It is very disturbing that despite the overwhelming evidence and findings by the Tribunal that the PDP was robbed of its clear victory at the election through manipulations including wrongful allocation of votes to the All Progressives Congress (APC), arbitrary and illegal cancellation of valid votes won by the PDP, the Election Tribunal contradicted itself by coming to a conclusion that is at variance with its own findings.

“More distressing is that this judgment by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal constitutes a major threat to the confidence Nigerians have in democracy and adjudication of electoral matters.

“It is instructive to note that democracy can only thrive in an atmosphere of adherence to the Rule of Law and adjudication of issues which can only be accepted by the people when indeed a tribunal of such nature impartially apply the law, the facts and body of evidence made available to it at proceedings

“However, consistent with PDP’s avowed belief in the capacity of the judiciary to, in appropriate cases, ensure that justice is done, our Party and candidate Dr. Asue Ighodalo are proceeding to the Court of Appeal where we believe that there will be a conscientious judicial review of the matter to give justice to the people of Edo State.”

The PDP called on the people of Edo State to remain resolute and not allow the verdict of the Election Tribunal to dampen their confidence in the institution of the Judiciary and democracy in Nigeria as they await the restoration of the mandate they freely gave to our Party and candidate, Asue Ighodalo at the election.