BREAKING: Supreme Court Upholds Okpebholo’s Election As Edo Governor

The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asuerinme Ighodalo.

In a unanimous decision on Thursday, a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba ruled that the appeal lacked merit and upheld the earlier rulings of both the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which had declared Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the validly elected governor.

The apex court held that Ighodalo failed to present credible evidence to prove claims of irregularities such as over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. It noted that some of the exhibits, including BVAS records, were not properly demonstrated in court and lacked supporting witnesses.

“The appellant did not satisfactorily discharge the burden of proof placed on him by the law,” Justice Garba stated in the lead judgment.

Ighodalo had urged the Supreme Court to reverse the May 29 judgment of the Court of Appeal, insisting that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the law and that he had secured the highest number of valid votes.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Okpebholo, and the APC all argued for the appeal’s dismissal. The tribunal and appellate court had also ruled that the PDP’s evidence was largely hearsay and failed to establish any wrongdoing at the polling units.

INEC had declared Okpebholo winner with 291,667 votes, ahead of Ighodalo, who polled 247,655 votes in the September 21, 2024 election.

With this judgment, the Supreme Court has now put to rest all legal challenges surrounding Okpebholo’s election as governor of Edo State.