President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has described the verdict of the Supreme Court on the Edo State governorship tussle, which affirmed Governor Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected governor of the state, as a triumph for democracy and the will of the people.
 
Also, Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu, has congratulated Okpebholo, describing the judgment of the Supreme Court as a confirmation of his victory at the polls, where the good people of Edo State overwhelmingly voted him as their governor.
 
In a personally signed statement, Akpabio said the ruling confirmed the transparency and credibility of the September 21, 2024, governorship election, and validated the overwhelming choice of the Edo electorate.
 
“What the apex court in the land has done is to affirm the will and wishes of the overwhelming majority of the people of Edo State. It shows that the election was transparent, free and fair,” the Senate President said.
 
A separate statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, further quoted Akpabio as saying the judgment reinforces the democratic principle that elections are decided by the people at the ballot.
 
He added: “The declaration by the Supreme Court in favour of Senator Okpebholo against Mr. Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the legitimately and constitutionally elected governor of Edo State has proven that elections are won at the ballot and by people who have identified with the grassroots.”
 
According to him, the ruling not only cements Okpebholo’s mandate but also clears the path for him to continue delivering good governance to the people of Edo State.
 
In a statement on Friday by his Press Secretary, Abubakar Bawa, Aliyu
said the Supreme Court’s judgment was a victory not only for the people of Edo State, but for democracy in Nigeria as a whole.
 
He stated that the dismissal of Ighodalo’s appeal by the Supreme Court, for lacking merit, demonstrates to the world that the Nigerian judiciary is truly independent and committed to upholding justice.
 
“On behalf of the good people of Sokoto State, I congratulate my colleague and brother, Governor Monday Okpebholo, on this well-deserved victory. This is a victory for the entire APC family and for all well-meaning Nigerians,” Aliyu said.
 
He urged Okpebholo to remain focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to all corners of Edo State, wishing him a rewarding and successful tenure in office.