Court Of Appeal Upholds Senator Monday Okpebholo’s Victory As Edo State Governor.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, solidifying his victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election. The unanimous decision, delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, dismissed an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who sought to overturn the result.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okpebholo, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes, and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata, who polled 22,763 votes. Okpebholo secured victories in over 10 of Edo State’s 18 local government areas, marking a significant shift as the state transitioned from PDP control under outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The PDP challenged the outcome, alleging irregularities, over-voting in 320 polling units, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, including claims that INEC failed to serialise sensitive electoral materials. Their petition, marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, argued that Okpebholo did not secure the majority of lawful votes. However, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed these claims on April 2, 2025, citing insufficient evidence and a lack of competent witnesses, such as polling unit officers, to substantiate the allegations.
The Court of Appeal upheld the tribunal’s ruling, stating that the PDP and Ighodalo failed to demonstrate any miscarriage of justice. Justice Danjuma described the appeal as “devoid of merit,” noting that the petitioners’ evidence, including testimonies from 19 witnesses and 153 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, did not convincingly prove electoral fraud or non-compliance.
Okpebholo, a 54-year-old businessman and politician born in Udomi-Uwessan, Esan Central, was sworn in as governor on November 12, 2024, alongside his deputy, Dennis Idahosa. A former senator for Edo Central since 2023, Okpebholo campaigned on promises to tackle insecurity, boost the economy, and improve infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Following the tribunal’s ruling, he extended an olive branch to opponents, calling for unity to advance Edo State’s development.
The PDP, expressing dissatisfaction, has vowed to challenge the verdict at the Supreme Court, with Ighodalo asserting that the election was marred by irregularities. The Centre for Democracy and Development noted concerns about vote-buying and intimidation of election officials during the poll, though these claims did not sway the tribunal or appellate court.
Governor Okpebholo, addressing supporters after the ruling, expressed gratitude to Edo residents and reaffirmed his commitment to transformative governance. “This victory belongs to every citizen of Edo State. We must now unite to build a prosperous future,” he said.
The ruling strengthens the APC’s hold on Edo State, a key political battleground, and sets the stage for Okpebholo’s administration to deliver on its ambitious agenda. As the legal battle potentially moves to the Supreme Court, the focus remains on whether the PDP can substantiate its claims at the final judicial level.
