The Supreme Court on Thursday confirmed Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, putting an end to months of legal tussle over the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
A five-member panel of the court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, dismissed the appeal filed by Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring it lacked merit.
Reading the lead judgment, Justice Garba said the PDP and its candidate failed to present any solid evidence to show that Okpebholo’s victory was not based on lawful votes.
“The appeal is hereby dismissed for lacking in merit and the judgment affirms the decision of the tribunal and Court of Appeal,” he said.
Garba also noted that the PDP could not convincingly explain how the rulings of the lower courts were flawed.
Ighodalo and his party had gone to court alleging irregularities during the election and asked for the results to be nullified. But the tribunal and the Court of Appeal threw out the case, prompting the final appeal to the Supreme Court.
With Thursday’s judgment, all court battles over the Edo governorship election have now come to a close, with Okpebholo remaining governor.
