The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, bringing an end to the legal challenge filed by the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, the apex court dismissed Ighodalo’s appeal, affirming the verdict of the lower courts that validated Okpebholo’s victory.
The legal battle stemmed from the 2024 Edo governorship election in which Senator Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Ighodalo and the PDP had approached the court, alleging irregularities and seeking to overturn the result.
But the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, ruled that the appellants failed to provide sufficient evidence to warrant the nullification of the election.
Reacting to the judgment, Senator Okpebholo described the ruling as a “victory for democracy and the good people of Edo State.”
“This decision has further strengthened the will of the people. I remain committed to delivering good governance, promoting unity, and advancing development in our beloved state,” he said.
On the other hand, Ighodalo, while expressing disappointment over the judgment, urged his supporters to remain calm and law-abiding.
“I still believe in the democratic process, even though the outcome was not what we hoped for. Our desire was to serve the people, and that desire has not changed,” he said.
Political analysts believe the ruling has solidified APC’s hold in the state, with expectations now high for the Okpebholo administration to deliver on its campaign promises.
