The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday upheld the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, reaffirming his victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Mohammed Danjuma dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, describing it as lacking in merit.
A three-member panel of the appellate court unanimously ruled that the appellants failed to prove any miscarriage of justice in the earlier decision of the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal, which had also dismissed their petition.
“The appeal is devoid of merit and is hereby dismissed,” Justice Danjuma stated, affirming that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lawfully declared Okpebholo the winner of the election.
The judgment marks a significant legal victory for Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he represented during the election.
In response to the ruling, Okpebholo called on his opponent to accept the verdict in good faith and join hands to move the state forward. “Democracy thrives on the rule of law, and I urge my brother Asue Ighodalo to accept the court’s verdict like a true sportsman,” he said.
With this judgment, Monday Okpebholo’s mandate stands solidified, closing a major chapter in the post-election legal contest in Edo State.
