Eboigbe Congratulates Gov Okpebholo on Supreme Court Verdict
*Calls for unity among the people.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo state, Victor Eboigbe, has congratulated the state governor, Sen Monday Okpebholo, following the verdict of the Supreme Court, which validated his election as the governor.
He delivered the message in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday.
Describibg the verdict as an affirmation of the people's mandate the governor secured during the election as announced by the electoral umpire and subsequently validated by both the Election Petition Tribunal and Appeal Court. He added that the verdict has removed the outcome of the election from any contest, noting that it has been settled for what it is-the expressed will of the people of the state.
"The people made their choice. The Election Petition Tribunal and Appeal Court affirmed it. By this verdict, the Supreme Court has laid to rest any further misgiving about the outcome. The will of the people is no longer in contest. It is a victory for all.
"I therefore congratulate Gov Ekpebholo over the verdict while also urging him to see it as clarion call on him to get on with the onerous responsibility imposed on him by the collective will of the people," Eboigbe said. Eboigbe also called on those who may feel aggrieved by the outcome to view it as an act of God.
According to him, the verdict is a call on all the people of the state irrespective of political leanings, to be part of the team effort to make Edo state great. "The final verdict has been given. There should be no room for bad blood. Instead, all the good people of the state must come together to work for the good of the state. If nothing, the verdict should be seen as an act of God," he counselled.
It would be recalled that Okpebholo was declared winner of the September 21, 2024 election. The declaration was challenged by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its flag bearer, Dr Asue Ighodalo, who approached the Election Petition Tribunal, seeking to overturn the declaration. However, the tribunal turned down the request, following which the plaintiffs approached the Appeal Court.
As was the case at the tribunal, the appellate Court also decline to reverse the election outcome prompting the appellants to seek the intervention of the country's apex court
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