The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Thursday delivered a unanimous judgment affirming the election of Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, describing the petition as devoid of merit.
Justice Mohammed Danjuma, who presided over the three-member panel, held that the PDP and Ighodalo failed to establish any miscarriage of justice in the earlier judgment of the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal. The tribunal had previously dismissed the petition filed by the appellants on April 2, 2025, after finding they did not prove allegations of overvoting, vote manipulation, or non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The PDP and Ighodalo had challenged the declaration of Senator Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner, alleging electoral irregularities. However, the Court of Appeal maintained that the election was conducted in substantial compliance with the law and upheld the tribunal’s ruling. The judgment confirms that Governor Okpebholo was validly returned and declared the winner of the poll.
Senator Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, were sworn in on November 12, 2024, following the election. The PDP has expressed disappointment with the appellate court’s decision and announced plans to seek redress at the Supreme Court, describing the ruling as a temporary setback while maintaining that Ighodalo was the rightful winner.
The appeal was heard alongside other related petitions, including cross-appeals by the APC and other parties, with final arguments concluded before the court reserved judgment earlier in May 2025. The Court of Appeal’s ruling now brings a significant legal closure to the electoral dispute in Edo State.
