FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, has commended the Supreme Court for the judgment that has affirmed the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected governor of the state.
In a statement issued shortly after the judgment yesterday, Tenebe thanked Edo people, who he said “…came out massively to vote for senator Monday Okpehbolo” on the day of the election.
According to him, but for them, the state would not be experiencing the present development under Okpebholo. He assured that Edo people will see more developments.
“And I also want to thank Edo people who came out massively to vote for Senator Monday Okpehbolo. If not, for them, we would not be getting this development in the state today. Now the state will witness more and more developments”.
He stressed that: “I am so happy today, because today the judgment of the Supreme Court is of a double celebration to me”, he said, adding that “Double in the sense that, my little girl’s ,Somi, graduation is today and when we are preparing for the celebration, the judgment of the Supreme Court affirming the election of Senator Monday Okpehbolo’s victory, equally came today. It is a double celebration for me”.
He thanked the Judiciary, saying: “I also want to use this victory to thank our lawyers and Asue Ighodalo’s lawyers for encouraging him to waste his money from the lower court up to the Supreme Court”.
The APC chairman reminded the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo that the Supreme Court is the highest Court in the country and “…who wants to appeal its judgement have to go to heaven to meet God”.
Tenebe went further to say that: “I know Asue Ighodalo will want to appeal to God and you know if you want to appeal to God you have to die first.
“If he wants to do that he has to die before us and go to Purgatory. He will be there for a long time because we are not ready to die now. We have to fix Edo State. Purgatory is like prison. Finally, I use this opportunity to thank everybody”, he said.
… As Edo PDP Accepts Supreme Court Judgment With ‘Grace, Dignity’
Meanwhile , the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reacted to yesterday’s Supreme Court judgement that affirmed Monday Okpebholo victory in the October 2024 Edo governorship election.
The party in a statement signed by the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, who expressed disappointment over the judgment, however expressed hope that the country’s democratic institutions will one day fully reflect the genuine will of the people.
Aziegbemi stated that, “We have come to the end of a long legal journey, culminating in the judgment of the Supreme Court. As a party that believes in the rule of law and the democratic process, we have received the decision of the Court with the utmost respect”.
“Though the judgment did not go in our favour, we accept it with grace and dignity.
“However, let us be clear, our faith is not in man alone. The Supreme Court has spoken, yes, but the Supreme God, the Almighty remains the final and ultimate judge. He speaks for the people. He sees the intentions of hearts, the desires of the people of Edo State, and the direction in which they truly wish to go.
“Nigeria’s democracy, we must remind ourselves, is still a work in progress. This moment is a reminder of how far we have come and how much farther we must go. We remain hopeful that one day soon, our democratic institutions will fully reflect the genuine will of the people, without fear, favour, or manipulation.
“To the resilient people of Edo State, we say: thank you. Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for your courage, your faith, and your trust in the PDP. We may not have received the verdict we hoped for, but we are not defeated. We are not discouraged. Our cause is just, and our commitment to good governance, justice, and development remains strong”.
He said, “Let it be known: this is not the end. This is only another chapter in our shared journey toward a better Edo State and a better Nigeria. We will continue to engage, organize, and serve with integrity and purpose”.
Adding that, “To all our supporters across the state and beyond, stay peaceful, stay united, and remain hopeful. History is not written in a day, and no judgment can erase the love you have shown us, or the bond we share as a political family”.
The chairman further stated that, “The PDP in Edo State will continue to stand as a voice for the voiceless, a shield for the vulnerable, and a platform for progressive change”,
he stated.
