Breaking: Supreme Court Upholds Monday Okpebholo As Edo State Governor.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the rightful governor of Edo State, bringing an end to a contentious legal battle over the 2024 gubernatorial election. The unanimous decision, delivered on Thursday, 10 July 2025, by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal, dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for lacking merit.
The court’s ruling upholds earlier decisions by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in Abuja, both of which had affirmed Okpebholo’s victory in the election held on 21 September 2024. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Okpebholo the winner after he secured 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who polled 247,274 votes, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party, who came a distant third with 22,763 votes.
Ighodalo and the PDP challenged the election results, alleging irregularities, including non-compliance with the Electoral Act, improper vote computation, and over-voting in 765 of the state’s 4,519 polling units. Represented by Ken Mozia (SAN), the PDP argued that INEC failed to serialise and pre-record sensitive electoral materials, which they claimed facilitated rigging in favour of the APC. They urged the court to declare Ighodalo the winner, asserting he had secured the majority of lawful votes.
However, the Supreme Court found the appellants’ claims unsubstantiated. Justice Garba Lawal, delivering the lead judgment, stated that the PDP and Ighodalo failed to provide credible evidence to support allegations of electoral irregularities or demonstrate that Okpebholo did not secure lawful votes. The court further noted that the appellants did not call relevant witnesses, such as polling unit officers or voters, to substantiate their claims, rendering the appeal without merit.
The legal journey began at the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in April 2025, where a three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed Ighodalo’s petition for failing to prove non-compliance with the Electoral Act. The tribunal highlighted the absence of competent witnesses to support the allegations. The Court of Appeal, in a May 2025 ruling led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, upheld the tribunal’s decision, stating that the petitioners had “dumped” evidence without adequately demonstrating over-voting or non-compliance.
INEC, represented by Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that the PDP’s petition was inconsistent, as it simultaneously challenged the election’s validity while seeking to benefit from it. Agabi maintained that the election was conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act, and the Supreme Court agreed, affirming the lower courts’ rulings.
Okpebholo, a former senator representing Edo Central, was sworn in as governor on 12 November 2024, alongside his deputy, Dennis Idahosa. His victory has been hailed by APC supporters as a triumph of democratic values, with the Supreme Court’s decision now laying to rest months of legal disputes.
The Edo State Government, in a statement, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a validation of the people’s mandate. With the legal battles concluded, attention now turns to Okpebholo’s administration as it seeks to address the state’s developmental challenges and deliver on campaign promises.
This ruling marks a significant moment in Edo State’s political landscape, reinforcing the judiciary’s role in upholding electoral integrity. For Okpebholo, it solidifies his position as the state’s leader, while for the PDP, it signals the end of their challenge to the 2024 election outcome.
