By Emmanuel Mogbede
Senator Monday Okpebholo, APC Governorship Candidate for Sept. 21 election has hailed the Federal High Court judgement nullifying the primaries that produced the candidate of the PDP, Mr Asue Ighodalo.
Okpebholo, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said the judgment was a clear indication that the APC was the party to beat in the upcoming Sept. 21 Edo governorship polls.
He assured that the people of the state would always come first.
The APC governorship candidate called on the PDP candidate, Ighodalo, to take the path of honour and withdraw from the race, having been misled by PDP stakeholders.
He alleged that the policies of the PDP-led government in Edo, the level of insecurity, unemployment, cultism, perennial floods, bad roads and disregard for traditional institutions was poor.
He claimed that the faith of the PDP candidate was a clear pointer to the failure that awaited the party in the forthcoming Edo governorship election.
“I welcome the court judgment given on Thursday by a Federal High Court in Abuja, the courtnhas saved Edo people of another four years of pains and agonies,” he said.
Okpebholo added that what the PDP called primaries were a far cry, noting that with just two months to a crucial election, it was unable to put its house in order.
He called on Edo people to rally round him and the APC to bring back the lost glory of the state, adding that if elected, his administration would be committed to taking the state to greater heights.
He noted that since the exit of Sen. Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo, its people had not had any reason to celebrate.
“This will change in September when the people will take power back through the ballot. Edo has been cut off from the centre for too long.
“We can see this from the level of abandonment, we need to return Edo to the centre and enjoy all the benefits that we truly deserve. We are optimistic.
“With this judgement, Edo people can clearly see that the PDP is a chaotic party and can’t be allowed to continue to lead our dear State.
“With the APC, I assure you of the best, our best is yet to come,” the APC Edo governorship candidate said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court, in its ruling, declared as invalid the primary election that produced Ighodalo as PDP governorship candidate.
The primary election conducted on Feb. 22, 2024, was voided on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo invalidated the primary election while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by some aggrieved delegates.
The suit was instituted by one Kelvin Mohammed in a representative capacity.
Ekwo held that both the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP guidelines were grossly violated in the conduct of the primary election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin, Edo capital.
(NAN)
