The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Edo State, upholding the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
A five-man panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal held that the appellants – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 2024 election, Asue Ighodalo – could not establish their claims of election non-compliance, unlawful votes, and that Okpebholo was not duly elected.
The appeal was dismissed for lacking merit.
Thursday’s verdict came about 11 months after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Okpebholo as the winner of the Edo governorship election.
Meanwhile, Governor Okpebholo has welcomed the victory at the Supreme Court and has extended a “sincere olive branch to all his opponents and members of the opposition”.
In a statement, Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, said, “In the true spirit of statesmanship, Governor Okpebholo extends a sincere olive branch to all his opponents and members of the opposition.
“The elections are over; the real work of governance and healing must begin. He urges political leaders across party lines to rise above division and contribute constructively to the task of building a greater Edo State.”
He said the verdict is not a personal victory for the governor but a shared triumph for every Edo citizen, regardless of political, ethnic, or religious affiliation.
“Edo belongs to all of us. The time has come to set aside our differences, close ranks, and march forward—united in purpose, anchored in peace, and driven by a shared vision of progress,” the statement added.”Let this victory ignite a new era of unity, dialogue, and impact-driven governance”.
