By John Mayaki
News filtered into town yesterday that the Supreme Court would today hear the case brought by Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the PDP, against Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Governor of Edo State, who won the governorship election on September 21th, 2024.
Don’t forget that Okpebholo’s victory was validated by the Election Petition Tribunal and confirmed by the Court of Appeal, both affirming that Okpebholo was the rightful winner of the poll as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Now, what do we expect today? It is either the Court entertains the case and immediately gives judgment, or it would reserve judgment for another day. But either way, the case would be thrown out the window and very quickly too.
Don’t say I didn’t tell you. I reported on the tribunal sitting and told the world that the petitioner would lose and it happened. I also said the same at the Appeal Court and advised Asue Ighodalo to immediately pick up a Senate form instead of wasting his time, but I was heavily criticized.
Now, Ighodalo has approached the Supreme Court for a reprieve from what he claimed was the “hellish” decision of the Election Petition Tribunal and the subsequent Appeal Court ruling dismissing his petition on all grounds. He sought a declaration that he won the election but that INEC wrongfully declared Okpebholo the winner.
However, he will also meet a brick wall at the Supreme Court, just as in the first and second instances, and his case will be brushed off in a manner that won’t be surprising.
So today or in no distant time, the Supreme Court will put the final nail into the coffin of the case. It will do so in a spectacular manner, though I won’t dwell on the details here because I never expected the case to go any other way.
As a matter of fact, based on my deep knowledge of election petitions and a little bit of legal insight gleaned from neutral friends skilled in such matters, I know the case will eventually run into a cul-de-sac. And we are almost there.
We must not forget that the will of the people is the will of God; this is the basis of democracy. And more so, the will of God is the will of the people. Who then are we to question the Almighty since He has already ordained Okpebholo?
Let me once again suggest to Ighodalo: accept defeat and congratulate Okpebholo. I do not expect all hell to break loose with this harmless suggestion and advise.
I say this because I do not need the gift of clairvoyance to know how the Supreme Court case will go: another dead end, a terminal one and that will be it.
So I expect Ighodalo to simply accept the final verdict in the spirit of Edo Agenda and support the governor to deliver on his mandate for the general public, and for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy.
Having said all this, I must sign off by extending my sincere congratulations to His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for being the politician of the year; imagine, from nowhere to the Senate, and within a jiffy, and against all odds, emerging as the Governor of Edo State.
Okpebholo’s grace is matchless. He is a case study. This is a fact and the reality.
And to Ighodalo: the future is brighter. Next time, do not trust an Obaseki who wants you to inherit his enemies, knowing fully well that he is even a stumbling block to himself, not to mention your ambition. It is time to move on.
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