The Supreme Court has today, Thursday, upheld the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, dismissing the appeal filed by Asuerinme Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a unanimous decision delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba, the apex court ruled that the appeal lacked merit and failed to present credible evidence of electoral malpractice during the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
The court affirmed earlier judgments by both the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal, which had declared Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the validly elected governor.
The Supreme Court held that the PDP and its candidate failed to substantiate their claims of over-voting, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and alleged result manipulations across 765 polling units. It also noted the failure to present key witnesses and properly demonstrate the BVAS evidence.
INEC had declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo who polled 247,655 votes.
With this judgment, all legal challenges to Governor Okpebholo’s election have been conclusively laid to rest.
