Supreme Court Affirms Monday Okpebholo as Duly Elected Governor of Edo State

The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing the appeal filed by Asuerinme Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as lacking in merit.

In a unanimous ruling delivered on Thursday, July 10, 2025, by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba, the apex court affirmed earlier decisions of both the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which validated Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.

The court ruled that the PDP candidate failed to present credible and admissible evidence to support claims of electoral irregularities, including over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. It also noted that many exhibits were “dumped” on the court without being properly demonstrated through competent witnesses, particularly in the alleged 432 affected polling units out of the 4,519 total.

“The appellant did not satisfactorily discharge the burden of proof placed on him by the law,” said Justice Garba.

Ighodalo had alleged widespread rigging, manipulation of results at collation centres, and improper usage of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in his petition. However, the apex court agreed with the lower courts that these claims were not substantiated.

INEC had earlier declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who polled 247,655 votes. Dissatisfied with the result, Ighodalo and the PDP proceeded through the tribunal, Court of Appeal, and finally the Supreme Court—all of which rejected their case.

The judgment brings a final end to the post-election legal battle in Edo State, solidifying Governor Okpebholo’s mandate.