By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Peoples Democratic Party’s Candidate in the September 21, 2024, Edo state off-circle Governorship polls, Chief Asue Ighodalo, on Monday January 27, 2025 made good his threat to sue the All Progressive Congress, APC, Chairman in the State, Jarret Tenebe, for alleged defamation.
The PDP candidate who is currently locked in a legal battle with his APC counterpart, Governor Monday Okpebholo over the outcome of the election ,in the suit filed at the High Court of Lagos state , is demanding the sum of N500 million in damages for an alleged defamation of his character.
The Source reports that the Edo state Acting Chairman of APC, had, in a bid to defend Governor Okpebholo’s gaffe during the presentation of the 2025 appropriation bill at the State House of Assembly, in December last years, made comments that allegedly, impugned the character of some figures including the PDP Governorship candidate.
Governor Okpebholo had experienced torrid times, pronouncing figures during the budget presentation, a development that exposed him to a barrage of social media taunts.
But in defending the embarrassing gaffe, the Edo State APC Chairman had blamed the situation on the innocence of the Governor, as it concerns public funds embezzlement,.
According to him, unlike the Governor’s opponents and critics who are adept at manipulating figures for self aggrandizement, Tenebe in a viral video insisted that Okpebolo’s difficulties in pronouncing figures was indicative of his impeccable reputation.
Irked by the statement, Dr. Ighodalo had issued an ultimatum to him for the withdrawal of the offensive statement,
However, the demand for retraction and apology was ignored by the APC Chairman.
In a writ of summons, the PDP’s Governorship flag bearer among other things, is praying the court for a declaration to the effect that all the statements as contained in the contentious video of December 10, 2024, amount to defamation of his character.
Similarly, the claimant is demanding also for the declaration that the statement made by the defendant, in an interview with TMC TV/Radio on December 17, 2024, to the effect that he ( Ighodalo ) is a thief amount to defamation.
In addition to the payment of N500 million, Ighodalo is praying the court for an order mandating the APC. chairman to, within seven days of the judgment, issue an apology to him.
He is also demanding for the official retraction of the said offensive statements ,as contained in the December 10, 2024 video, the December 17, media interview with the TMC TV/Radio and other social media publications.
” The Primary objective of procuring the publications of the defamatory video was to tarnish our client’s reputation.
“Since the publication of the defamatory video ,our client has received numerous calls from professional colleagues ,business partners and other well meaning Nigerians ,locally and in the Diaspora ,inquiring as to the propriety of the allegations
” Undoubtedly this development has exposed our client to great distress ,hurt and humiliation” Ighodalo’s counsels submitted.
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