Our aspiration halted by people who do not mean well for Edo — Asue Ighodalo

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, said the aspiration of the party to produce the successor of outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki was halted by people who do not mean well for the state.

DAILY POST reports that Ighodalo remarked in his message to the Edo people after he was defeated by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had on Sunday declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of APC the winner of the election with 291,667 votes, while PDP got 247,566 votes.

Ighodalo, however, opined that the opposition’s triumph is only temporary.

“Together, we ran a great campaign, and your overwhelming support was evident in the ballots before our progress was unjustly halted on September 21, 2024, by people who do not mean well for you or for our state.

“That day will forever be etched in our history as one of our darkest moments, marked by the brazen theft of our mandate and the shameful subversion of the will of the people.

“Yet, in the face of this challenge, we must not be discouraged. The illusory triumph of evil over good is only temporary.

“Our journey towards a prosperous Edo State does not end here; it is just beginning. Let us remain engaged, committed, and united in our collective resolve to create a pathway to prosperity for all in Edo State.

“You did not abandon me during our campaign and I promise you that as we face a daunting and uncertain future together, I will not abandon you,” he said.

The PDP governorship candidate noted that his aspiration was not borne out of love for power but a genuine desire to serve the people of Edo State.

He thanked his supporters for believing in his vision, for their countless hours of dedication, and for every conversation that he had with the people about this cause.