The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, the court held that the appellants failed to prove claims of over-voting, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and other alleged irregularities that were cited to challenge Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
The court noted that the PDP candidate only challenged the election results in 395 out of 4,519 polling units and that the evidence presented, including testimonies from 19 witnesses at the tribunal, was insufficient to overturn the election outcome.
The judgment upheld previous rulings by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, both of which had affirmed Okpebholo’s victory.
The tribunal had earlier dismissed the petition filed by the PDP and Ighodalo for failing to prove allegations of over-voting, non-serialisation of ballots, and other electoral malpractices.
The tribunal emphasized that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act during the election process.
With this final ruling, all legal challenges to Okpebholo’s election have been conclusively resolved, confirming him as the legitimate governor of Edo State.
Governor Okpebholo has expressed gratitude to the judiciary and the people of Edo State, pledging to lead with humility and focus on development, unity, and good governance. The Supreme Court’s decision marks the end of a protracted legal contest and sets the stage for renewed efforts toward progress and stability in Edo State.
