• Verdict marks fresh chapter for Edo, says Okpebholo
• Tinubu, Wike, Abiodun, others hail victory, task Edo gov, Ighodalo
• Judgment threat to Nigeria’s democracy, says former gov Obaseki
• PLAC seeks law to delay swearing-in until poll cases end
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 2024 Edo governorship election, Mr Asue Ighodalo, has decried the Supreme Court judgment, which upheld the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
In a strongly worded final statement issued yesterday, Ighodalo acknowledged the finality of the Supreme Court’s decision but insisted that it could not be regarded as justice.
“What happened in the September 2024 governorship election was not a contest. It was a robbery — coordinated, deliberate, and now tragically validated by the highest court in the land,” he said.
The Supreme Court had earlier dismissed Ighodalo’s appeal for lacking merit, affirming the decisions of the election petition tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which both upheld Okpebholo’s election.
Ighodalo said the verdict was a betrayal of the people’s trust and aspirations.
“You came out in hope. You voted for competence… and now, we are told your voice does not matter,” he said, addressing the people of Edo State.
He alleged that the election was rigged and accused key democratic institutions of failing to protect the will of the people. Expressing solidarity with his supporters and citizens who sought change, he stressed that although the electoral contest had ended, the struggle for justice and good governance must continue.
“We may not have won the office, but we won something greater. We found one another. We discovered our collective strength,” he said.
Ighodalo warned that what he described as the “illegitimacy” of the process would lead to poor governance and worsening hardship for citizens.
Despite the outcome, he urged resilience and called on the people not to lose hope.
“We may be wounded. But all wounds heal… Let this be our vow. We will not retreat. We will not be silenced. And we will never forget.”
He concluded with a veiled admonition to those now in power, urging them to govern with conscience and humility.
“To those who now hold power undeserved, lead with humility. Govern with conscience. History sees what the courts may not.”
MEANWHILE, Governor Monday Okpebholo hailed the judgment, describing it as a “landmark decision” that marks the end of all legal challenges arising from the 2024 governorship election.
In a statement issued yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Okpebholo celebrated the ruling as not only a personal milestone but also a decisive moment for the entire state.
“The Supreme Court of Nigeria today delivered a landmark judgment affirming Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, bringing to a conclusive end all legal contestations arising from the 2024 Governorship Election,” the statement partly read.
Okpebholo expressed deep appreciation to the judiciary and the people of Edo State for their steadfast support throughout the legal battle.
The statement continued, “This definitive verdict is not merely a legal triumph—it is a solemn reaffirmation of the sacred mandate freely given by the people of Edo State. It signals the beginning of a fresh chapter rooted in unity, inclusiveness, and accelerated development.
“His Excellency, Governor Monday Okpebholo, extends profound gratitude to the judiciary for its courage and fidelity to justice, and to the great people of Edo State for their unflinching support, patience, and faith in democracy.”
FOR his part, President Bola Tinubu congratulated Okpebholo, urging him to be magnanimous in victory.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu encouraged Governor Okpebholo to “be magnanimous in victory and rally the citizens of Edo across divides towards a singular vision of advancing the state’s development.”
He advised that with the legal hurdles now cleared, the governor should accelerate the delivery of exceptional services and good governance to the people of Edo State, which he noted the governor had already begun.
President Tinubu also extended his congratulations to the leadership and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, calling for unity and commitment in effectively discharging the mandate entrusted to them by the people.
DELIVERING judgment, the apex court held that Ighodalo and the PDP failed to substantiate their petition based on allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and over-voting.
Reading the lead judgment, Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba resolved four out of the five issues raised against Ighodalo. The court described the petition filed by Ighodalo and the PDP as lacking merit and substance.
The Supreme Court ordered all parties involved in the case — the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Okpebholo, and the All Progressives Congress — to bear their respective costs of litigation.
The appeal was heard on July 2, following an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which on May 29 upheld the decision of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissing Ighodalo’s petition for lack of merit.
On April 2, 2025, a three-member panel of the tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024. The panel held that the PDP and Ighodalo failed to prove claims of over-voting, irregularities, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The petitioners had alleged that Okpebholo did not win the majority of lawful votes and that the election was marred by widespread irregularities, errors in vote computation across 765 polling units, and a failure by INEC to serialise ballot papers and pre-record sensitive materials — claims they said enabled malpractice in favour of the APC and its candidate.
During the trial, the PDP and Ighodalo called 19 witnesses and subpoenaed a Senior Technical Officer from INEC’s ICT department, who brought 154 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines from 133 polling units in an effort to prove over-voting. INEC, however, did not call any witnesses. Okpebholo called one witness, while the APC presented four.
The petitioners had urged the tribunal to nullify the election, but the respondents argued that the case lacked merit and that Ighodalo failed to prove he won or that there was substantial non-compliance with electoral law.
In the tribunal’s judgment, Justice Kpochi said, “We hold that the failure by the petitioners to call polling unit agents, presiding officers or other registered voters was fatal to the case.
“It still remains the law that documents do not speak for themselves. A petitioner must prove their evidence. The allegation of non-compliance must be proved.
“The BVAS machines were clearly dumped and remain dormant. None of the witnesses could speak to the BVAS machine. The machines were not demonstrated to prove the allegations of over-voting.
“All the evidence documents tendered by the petitioners to prove over-voting fall short of the requirements. The law requires that the petitioners shall call witnesses to link the evidence rendered.”
On the claims that INEC did not comply with electoral guidelines, Justice Kpochi ruled, “The petitioners failed to prove that the first defendant did not comply with the provisions of the electoral act or INEC rules of conduct as required by law.”
Addressing the claim that serial numbers were missing on ballots, the tribunal stated, “There are figures here,” and also dismissed claims that INEC failed to pre-record materials used during the poll.
According to the final results announced by INEC, Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes while Ighodalo came second with 247,655 votes.
During the Supreme Court hearing, Ighodalo, represented by Ken Mosia, SAN, asked the court to declare him the winner of the election on the grounds that he scored the majority of lawful votes.
However, INEC’s counsel, Kanu Agabi, urged the court to dismiss the appeal, arguing that the petitioners could not describe the election as illegal and simultaneously seek to be declared its winners.
Agabi also said the PDP and Ighodalo were inconsistent in their arguments and asked the judges to reject their claims.
Counsel to Okpebholo, Onyechi Ikpeazu, and counsel to the APC, Emmanuel Okala, also urged the court to dismiss the appeal.
Wike applauds ruling
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has commended the Supreme Court’s judgment affirming the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State in the September 2024 governorship poll.
Wike expressed his views in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, in Abuja yesterday.
Describing the judgment as a final confirmation of the mandate freely given by the people of Edo, the minister urged Governor Okpebholo to remain focused and view the victory as a renewed call to selfless service.
“This victory is for the people of Edo, who elected Okpebholo. It is a call for greater commitment to the service of the people.
“I congratulate the governor and urge him to keep doing his best for the upliftment of his people,” Wike stated.
He also called on the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo, to join hands with the governor in advancing the development of the state.
“Now that a final answer has been provided as to the question of who actually won the governorship election, it behoves all opponents of the governor to, in the interest of the Edo people, join hands with him,” the minister said.
‘Victory affirms will of Edo people’
Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF), Dapo Abiodun, described the Supreme Court’s validation of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s election as a well-deserved victory.
In a statement issued on behalf of the forum in Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday, Abiodun said the ruling had put to rest any suggestion that Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election was a fluke.
Abiodun said the apex court’s judgment now offers the Edo governor the chance to focus fully on implementing the development agenda for which the electorate gave him an overwhelming mandate, without further political distractions.
“On behalf of my brothers in the Southern Governors’ Forum, I heartily welcome the verdict of the Supreme Court today (yesterday), affirming what Edo State people and Nigerians had known all along, namely that on September 21, 2024, Edo State voters gave Governor Monday Okpebholo a mandate to pilot their affairs for the next four years,” the statement read.
“No doubt, this victory is great news for democracy in Nigeria, for the people of Edo State, for our great party, the All Progressives Congress, and for good governance and the development of our dear country,” it added.
‘Judgment threat to Nigeria’s democracy’
Former Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has described the judicial validation of the 2024 governorship election as a grave danger to Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement issued yesterday in Benin, Obaseki reacted to the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected governor of Edo.
According to him, the matter would be left in God’s hands, expressing faith that only God knows the right time and way to deliver justice and redemption to the people of Edo.
“I am profoundly grateful to the good people of Edo State and Nigerians for their overwhelming support accorded our party, PDP, and its candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, who we believe won the Edo governorship election, which took place on September 21, 2024.
“It is based on this conviction and our belief that the results were manipulated that we took steps to seek legal redress—beginning with the election petition tribunal, then the Court of Appeal, and finally, the Supreme Court.
“But unfortunately, and most surprisingly, all the courts have ruled against us.
“Although we strongly disagree with the decision of the Supreme Court, as adherents to the rule of law, we are bound by their verdict,” he said.
He added: “We want to caution that the iconic manner in which the election was manipulated, coupled with the judicial validation it has received, portends grave danger for Nigeria’s democracy.”
Obaseki, however, encouraged the people of Edo to keep hope alive as they persisted in the struggle to redeem their fatherland.
APC congratulates Okpebholo
The All Progressives Congress has congratulated Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, following the Supreme Court’s validation of his victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
In a statement released yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party also commended the judiciary for its professionalism, dedication to the rule of law, and steadfast commitment to upholding constitutional order and electoral democracy.
The statement read: “The All Progressives Congress welcomes the judgment of the Supreme Court affirming Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State in the 2024 governorship election.
“Our great party congratulates Governor Okpebholo on this historic victory. We thank our teeming members, supporters and the good people of Edo State for their steadfast support during this legal challenge.
“We commend the judiciary for its dedication, professionalism and commitment to the rule of law, constitutional order and defence of electoral democracy as demonstrated in the adjudication of this matter.
“With this final judicial affirmation, Governor Okpebholo is now poised to expand and consolidate on the monumental development strides he has started since his inauguration as governor.”
‘Edo PDP accepts Supreme Court verdict with grace, dignity’
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has accepted the Supreme Court judgment affirming Governor Monday Okpebholo’s election victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship poll, stating that it does so with “mixed feelings” and “grace and dignity”.
In a statement issued yesterday and signed by Dr Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, the party said that though the judgment did not go in its favour, it respects the decision as a law-abiding and democratic institution.
“Today, we stand before you with hearts full of gratitude, not bitterness, with clarity, not confusion and with hope, not despair,” Aziegbemi stated.
“We have come to the end of a long legal journey, culminating in the judgment of the Supreme Court. As a party that believes in the rule of law and the democratic process, we have received the decision of the court with the utmost respect.
“Though the judgment did not go in our favour, we accept it with grace and dignity.”
He added, “However, let us be clear that our faith is not in man alone. The Supreme Court has spoken, yes, but the Supreme God, the Almighty, remains the final and ultimate judge.
“He speaks for the people. He sees the intentions of hearts, the desires of the people of Edo State, and the direction in which they truly wish to go.”
PLAC seeks law to delay swearing-in until poll cases end
As part of ongoing constitutional reforms, the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) has advised the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review to consider amending the constitution to ensure that winners declared in elections are not sworn into office until all related litigations are concluded.
Executive Director of PLAC, Mr Clement Nwankwo, made the suggestion on Wednesday night in Abuja during a media parley between the House Committee on Constitution Review and members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
Nwankwo noted that the current practice allows individuals declared winners to immediately assume office and potentially use state resources to prosecute legal battles against challengers, thereby undermining fairness.
“There are several other issues that the committee is also looking at, including ensuring that in the conduct of national and state elections, that persons who are initially elected do not get sworn in until litigation is completed,” he said.
“What we do see is that persons are elected into offices, they get sworn in, and they use the resources of the states to pursue litigation to the disadvantage of the persons who are challenging their elections.
“It doesn’t mean that the persons challenging the elections have a good case, necessarily, but it means that there is some sort of level playing field if everybody who is announced as winner of election is not sworn in until litigation is concluded.”
