NEWS LEVERAGE

Dr Blessing Agbomhere, All Progressive Congress, APC South-South Zonal Organising Secretary has advised Dr Asue Ighodalo, the September 21, 2024 Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Edo State to serve as the Special Adviser to Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Governor of Edo State following the firm declaration of the Election Tribunal in the State.

“I also believe that you must not contribute as the Governor of Edo State, Asue can serve as the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Economy of Edo State. He can serve as a Personal Assistant or even as a Senator or a councillor if what he wants is to serve the Edo people. So he must not be the Governor. He can join hands with the Governor to contribute and develop the State for the good of the Edo people.”

Speaking on Arise TV on Thursday, Dr Agbomhere said the Edo State Governor is willing to engage his rival in the election for the betterment of the people of the State stating that service to the people does not mean serving as the Governor of the State but serving in whatever capacity to improve the well-being of the people.

“If you go to Edo State today, you will see what is going on in the Education sector to the point that President Bola Tinubu had to applaud the efforts and tenacity put in the Edo system. So I think, Ighodalo should not waste his time in going to the Appeal Court. I’ve interacted with him on so many instances, and he’s open to engaging Asue Ighodalo to make his contribution to the people of Edo State if he so believes and wants to contribute to the betterment of Edo State.”

Speaking on the decision of the PDP Governorship candidate Ighodalo to appeal the judgement of the Election Tribunal, he advised against the decision, noting that he and his team failed to adduce the court with evidence to support their case.

“As you can see, people all over the State are happy about the victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Executive Governor of Edo State at the election Tribunal. Without missing words, we want to advise Governor Godwin Obaseki and Asue Ighodalo not to bother to appeal the judgement because this is the court of first instance and it is the court of evidence.

“They all know that they were not able to adduce the evidence to support their case. So, going to the Appeal and Supreme Court is a waste of time and resources. If they have too many of these resources at their disposal, they can actually invest them in the lives of the Edo people. There’s no need to appeal this.

“What has happened, has happened. They should move on. They don’t have to display their desperation to cease the government of the Edo People, as the people will not allow that. As we speak, Senator Okpebholo has started administering the State. He’s doing well. The people are glad that God gave them Senator Monday Okpebholo as Governor. He has displayed so far that he’s a man who believes in the will of God. A man who believes in good governance and he’s doing that with his leadership currently in the State.”

In a unanimous judgment on Wednesday, the three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Asuerime Ighodalo.

The tribunal ruled that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations of over-voting and upheld that Okpebholo secured the highest number of valid votes. Subsequently, Ighodalo stated that the decision would be appealed.