Okpebholo’s Remains Edo State Governor as Supreme Court Affirms Election
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has, in a unanimous decision, upheld the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, putting an end to months of legal battles that followed the contentious September 2024 gubernatorial election.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, a five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo, for lacking in merit.
The court ruled that the appellants failed to provide credible and sufficient evidence to support their claims of electoral malpractice and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after polling 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo, who secured 247,274 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP and Ighodalo filed a petition at the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, alleging over-voting, irregularities, and unlawful cancellation of results.
The tribunal dismissed the case, a verdict that was later upheld by the Court of Appeal.
In Thursday’s ruling, the Supreme Court agreed with the lower courts, faulting the petitioners for failing to call witnesses who could speak directly to the alleged irregularities in the polling units.
The justices further noted that many of the exhibits, including data from the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), were “dumped” before the court without proper linkage to specific polling units or electoral processes.
“The petitioners did not establish their claims in accordance with the law. Their case was not backed by credible, admissible evidence,” the court held.
The affirmation of Okpebholo’s victory has triggered celebrations within the APC, with party leaders describing the ruling as a triumph of democracy and a validation of the people’s will. Governor Okpebholo, in a brief statement following the verdict, expressed gratitude to the judiciary and called for unity in moving Edo State forward.
“This victory is not just mine or that of the APC—it is a victory for all Edo people,” he said. “It is time to heal, build, and deliver the dividends of democracy.”
On the other hand, PDP supporters have expressed disappointment, though there were no immediate indications that the party would pursue further action, as the Supreme Court’s decision is final.
Political observers say the verdict provides a significant boost to the APC in Edo State, a region that has historically been a battleground between the APC and PDP. It also sets a legal precedent regarding the evidentiary threshold required to prove electoral malpractices in court.
With the legal contest now settled, attention is expected to shift toward governance. Okpebholo, a former senator, is anticipated to unveil a full development agenda in the coming weeks, focusing on infrastructure, education, job creation, and security.
The Supreme Court’s decision marks the end of a protracted post-election dispute and reaffirms the judiciary’s role in resolving electoral conflicts, even as it renews debates on Nigeria’s electoral process and the standards for legal redress in post-election cases.
