In a decisive end to the long-drawn legal battle over the 2024 Edo State Governorship Election, the Supreme Court on Wednesday affirmed the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected Governor of Edo State.
The apex court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by a five-member panel, dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for lacking merit.
The justices held that Ighodalo and his party failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act during the March 2024 polls. They further ruled that the tribunal and the Court of Appeal were right in upholding Okpebholo’s victory, as the petitioners could not establish any irregularities capable of overturning the election outcome.
With this verdict, Monday Okpebholo’s victory—earlier declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—stands unshaken, cementing his mandate as the elected Governor of Edo State.
The ruling puts to rest months of political tension and speculation, as stakeholders across the state now look forward to a new chapter of governance under the APC-led administration.
Reacting shortly after the judgment, Okpebholo described the verdict as "a victory for democracy and the good people of Edo State," pledging to run an inclusive government focused on development, unity, and accountability.