IGHODALO ACCUSES APC OF WITNESS BRIBERY, INTIMIDATION
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has alleged that his legal team and witnesses have faced serious intimidation and financial inducement aimed at frustrating their case at the tribunal. He claimed that some of his witnesses were offered between ₦30 million and ₦40 million not to testify, while one of the witnesses even had his farm set ablaze.
Despite the pressure, Ighodalo disclosed that the witnesses stood their ground and testified on behalf of the PDP. “This family is remarkable. Despite the intimidation, despite the money spent, despite everything that they did to us, we won that election hands down,” he declared at the PDP stakeholders’ meeting in Benin City.
He emphasized that his appeal against the tribunal’s ruling, which upheld Governor Monday Okpebholo’s election victory, would proceed through the judicial hierarchy all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary. “The tribunal’s verdict was not fair. We’ve appealed, and we’ll take the case to the Supreme Court. We are confident that God will intervene because He is just,” he said.
Ighodalo insisted that the election was manipulated and urged PDP members to remain steadfast. “We must remain strong and focused, despite everything happening around us. When we get our mandate, we will pick up where leaders like Lucky Igbinedion left off. After our eight years in office, everyone will be comfortable, except those unwilling to work,” he said.
