BREAKING: SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS OKPEBHOLO AS EDO GOVERNOR, DISMISSES IGHODALO’S APPEAL
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Supreme Court has affirmed Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, dismissing the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo, who had challenged the outcome of the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
In a unanimous decision delivered by a five-member panel of justices, the Apex Court ruled on Monday that Ighodalo and the PDP failed to substantiate claims of over-voting, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and other alleged irregularities.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Lawal Garba held that the appellants did not provide sufficient evidence to invalidate the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Okpebholo.
The Court particularly faulted the PDP’s challenge, which focused on only 395 of the 4,519 polling units where the election was conducted, noting that such a narrow scope could not prove widespread non-compliance.
The panel also noted that the testimonies of the 19 witnesses presented at the tribunal stage lacked probative value and did not materially support the allegations against the election process.
The Supreme Court thereby upheld the rulings of the lower courts and the victory of Okpebholo, who was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the September 2024 poll.
With this decision, the legal battle over the Edo governorship election comes to a conclusive end, confirming Monday Okpebholo’s mandate as the legitimate governor of the state.
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