A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Edo Osahon, has stated that an alleged move by chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to secure the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the pending petition before the Elections Petition Tribunal on the Edo State Governorship Election has failed.
Mr Osahon made the revelation in a statement on Tuesday.
According to him, the PDP has reached out to certain South West traditional rulers to help secure the buy-in of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a favourable outcome at the Tribunal.
While he declared that the move was unsuccessful, Osahon maintained that, “this desperate bid and surprising turn of events by the PDD and its candidate has ultimately fallen flat, according to our sources”.
He said: “What we know is that such a plan cannot work. Nobody can influence the tribunal, which is made of erudite jurists.
“Those hoping to get to our president to help with their case are on a fruitless journey. Mr President has always allowed processes and systems to work.
“It is unheard of that some people would even sit down to think of such an unrealistic strategy.”
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“Before long, it was learned that there is a new plan again to disrupt the Tribunal sitting in Abuja, owing to what is perceived as inability of their witnesses who failed to present proof that they won the election.”
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okpebholo the winner of the September 21, 2024, election after securing 291,667 votes against Ighodalo of the PDP, who polled 247,274 votes.
The PDP has since rejected the result and filed a petition before the Tribunal, citing infractions of the Electoral Act.
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