Amanze ChinonyeThe Supreme Court of Nigeria today upheld the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected governor of Edo State, putting an end to months of legal tussle that trailed the September 2024 governorship poll.
In a unanimous decision delivered by a five-member panel of justices, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for lacking merit. The justices ruled that the appellants failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims of irregularities and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelJustice Uwani Abba-Aji, who read the lead judgment, stated that the appellants’ allegations of over-voting, voter intimidation, and result falsification were not backed by credible, admissible evidence. “The burden of proof rests on the petitioner, and in this case, it has not been discharged,” she said.
With this ruling, the court upheld the judgments of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, both of which had earlier affirmed Okpebholo’s victory at the polls.
Okpebholo, who contested under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the 21 September 2024 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), having polled a majority of the valid votes cast. He was sworn in as governor in May 2024 amid ongoing legal challenges from the opposition.
READ ALSO: Edo Tribunal Affirms Okpebholo’s Victory As Governor
Reacting to the judgment, Governor Okpebholo thanked the judiciary for what he described as a “fearless defense of democracy,” and extended an olive branch to his opponents. “Today’s decision is not just a personal victory, but a triumph for the will of the people of Edo State. I urge all stakeholders to join hands with us to move the state forward,” he said in a statement issued shortly after the verdict.
Meanwhile, the PDP has expressed disappointment with the ruling but said it would respect the decision of the court.
The Supreme Court’s affirmation of Okpebholo’s election brings a legal conclusion to one of the most closely watched political battles in Nigeria’s South-South region, and clears the path for his administration to proceed without further obstacles.
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