BREAKING: Supreme Court Upholds Okpebholo’s Election Win

Governor Monday Okpebholo’s victory in the September 2024 Edo State gubernatorial election has been officially affirmed by Nigeria’s Supreme Court.

In a unanimous decision, a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba dismissed the appeal filed by PDP candidate Asuerinme Ighodalo, citing a lack of credible evidence.

Legal Challenge Falls Flat

Ighodalo had alleged widespread electoral irregularities, including over-voting and technical malfunctions of BVAS devices in nearly 10% of polling units. However, the Court held that these claims were unsupported by facts or witness testimony.

“The appellant did not satisfactorily discharge the burden of proof,” Justice Garba declared in the lead judgment.

Lower Courts Had Already Sided with the APC

Prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling, both the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal had dismissed the challenges brought by the PDP, Action Alliance, and Accord Party.

The courts concluded that none of the petitioners had provided convincing evidence of electoral malpractice. INEC’s final tally showed Okpebholo winning with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who garnered 247,655.

Assembly Boosts Governor’s Cabinet

Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the Edo State House of Assembly quickly moved to fortify the governor’s administration by approving 20 new special advisers.

These appointments are aimed at supporting development efforts in sectors such as security, healthcare, education, and the economy.

With legal hurdles behind him and new advisory support in place, Governor Okpebholo now has a clear path to implement his campaign promises.