The Supreme Court has confirmed Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected Governor of Edo State.
A five-member panel of justices led by Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal gave the ruling on Thursday. The court dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, saying their case had no merit.
The PDP and Ighodalo had challenged the outcome of the September 2024 governorship election, claiming there were irregularities, unlawful votes, and that Okpebholo was not properly elected. But the Supreme Court said they failed to prove those claims.
This ruling comes nearly 11 months after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Okpebholo winner of the election. He secured 291,667 votes, while Ighodalo got 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party came third with 22,763 votes.
Earlier, the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal had both dismissed the PDP’s petition.
Okpebholo Calls for Unity After Court Victory
Governor Okpebholo welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision and extended a hand of peace to his political rivals.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor said, “In the true spirit of statesmanship, Governor Okpebholo extends a sincere olive branch to all his opponents and members of the opposition.”
He added, “The elections are over; the real work of governance and healing must begin. He urges political leaders across party lines to rise above division and contribute constructively to the task of building a greater Edo State.”
The governor also said the judgement was not just his victory, but a win for all Edo people, regardless of their political or religious background.
“Edo belongs to all of us. The time has come to set aside our differences, close ranks, and march forward—united in purpose, anchored in peace, and driven by a shared vision of progress,” he said.
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Ighodalo Rejects Ruling, Says Election Was Rigged
Meanwhile, PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo rejected the court’s decision. He described it as a betrayal of trust and said the election was not fair.
“Like you, I feel a deep sense of betrayal. Not just by those who rigged the process, but by the very institutions we trusted to protect our democracy,” he said in a statement.
He insisted that the election was rigged in favour of the APC and criticised the Supreme Court for upholding the result.
“What happened in the September 2024 Governorship Election was not a contest. It was a robbery. Coordinated. Deliberate. And now, tragically validated by the highest court in the land,” Ighodalo said.
While accepting the court’s authority, Ighodalo said he would not stop speaking the truth.
“I will not and cannot obstruct any judicial pronouncement, no matter how flawed. But I must never fear to speak truth to power,” Ighodalo said.