NIGERIA: Supreme Court Affirms Okpebholo’s Victory As Edo Governor

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Supreme Court has uphold the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State.

The judgment, delivered on Thursday, ends months of legal battles following the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

Justice Garba, who delivered the lead judgment, said the appeal lacked merit.

He ruled that the PDP and its candidate failed to provide credible evidence showing that Okpebholo did not win with lawful votes.

He also noted that the appellants could not prove that the decisions of the tribunal and the Court of Appeal were perverse.

“The appeal is hereby dismissed for lacking in merit and the judgment affirms the decision of the tribunal and Court of Appeal,” Justice Garba said.

The ruling confirms Senator Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the valid winner of the 2024 governorship election in Edo State.

The PDP had earlier claimed widespread irregularities and asked the court to nullify the election.

However, both the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal dismissed the case.

The Supreme Court’s verdict brings an end to the legal contest over the Edo governorship seat.