PDP, IGHODALO’S APPEAL WILL CRASH, OKPEBHOLO ASSURES. (PHOTO).

 PDP, Ighodalo’s appeal will crash, Okpebholo assures

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo (middle, backing the camera), while addressing the tumultuous crowd of supporters at his victory rally in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area in Edo Central Senatorial District of the state.

Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo has declared the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, would crash at the Court of Appeal.

Okpebholo spoke at Okaijesan Town Hall, Irrua, venue of the celebration of his Wednesday’s victory at the election petitions tribunal in Abuja, which Ighodalo and PDP vowed to appeal with the well-attended and colourful rally hosted by Edo Central senatorial district’s leaders.

He expressed gratitude to Edo residents for their massive support and prayers, while assuring them that his administration would continue with the current pace of developmental strides.

The Governor maintained that Ighodalo and PDP were free to appeal the judgment of the tribunal, but assured them that they would fail abysmally at the appellate court.

He said: “The leaders of the main opposition PDP in Edo have been talking and shouting, but Edo people spoke very clear and loud with their votes on September 21, 2024. Edo people voted for the right person in Senator Monday Okpebholo. The people will speak again, when the time is right.

“We defeated them at the tribunal in Abuja, and they said they want to appeal the judgment. If they like, let them appeal and even get to the Supreme Court, we will defeat them.

“They have stolen enough money from Edo State. So, they are wasting the money on court cases. If they like, let them spend the whole money they stole from the people. They will never steal Edo people’s mandate given to me and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.”

Okpebholo also assured that his administration would develop Esan land through road infrastructure, while revealing that the contract to dualise the old road from Ekpoma to Ubiaja had been awarded to a competent contrator by his government.

He said: “As we won the September 21 governorship election and subsequent inauguration on November 12, 2024, the first thing we did was to make sure that our roads were motorable across Edo State. If you come to Enewa now, it is looking like Abuja, as we are putting in efforts to ensure that we have good roads to boost economic activities.

“I know the problem of Edo State and Esan land. I have already awarded the old road from Ekpoma to Ubiaja to be dualised. There will be much space to enable vehicles to pass freely, without hitting one another. When completed, this road will boost economic activities in the area.

“I am an Edo man, an Esan man, and I know the problem of Esan people. Today (April 4), I came to tell you that the tribunal has given us victory again, after the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State. 

“Edo residents have spoken, and by the grace of God, very soon, what we promised our people, they will start enjoying them. The promise like the soft loan, our people will soon start getting the money. It will start happening in less than two weeks. The money is ready. Names are being compiled for the interested people who want the loan.”

The Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Umar Ikhilor stated that God gave Edo residents double victories in the governorship election of September 21 last year, and now in the election petitions tribunal’s judgment.

Ikhilor declared that Okpebholo, who won the governorship election in Edo, had been affirmed by the tribunal as the duly-elected governor of the state.

The SSG said: “We are grateful to God Almighty and the people of Edo State for their support and continuous prayers.”

The leader of Arewa community in Esan land, Bawa Umar, hailed Edo Governor for his efforts in ensuring peace, stability, and development in Edo state, after the penultimate Thursday’s gruesome murder of 16 travelling hunters at Uromi in the same Edo Central senatorial district.

Umar stated that Okpebholo’s visit to Kano state to condole with his Kano counterpart, Abba Kabir Yusuf, spoke volumes of his personality as a gentleman and a man of peace.