The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Thursday affirmed the election of Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, dismissing the petition filed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Asue Ighodalo.
The appellate court upheld the result of the September 21, 2024, governorship election, in which Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), secured victory with 291,667 votes. Ighodalo of the PDP trailed with 247,274 votes, while Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata placed a distant third with 22,763 votes.
Fourteen other candidates also contested but failed to gain significant support.
Following the judgment, the PDP announced its intention to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court. The party expressed dissatisfaction with the appellate court’s decision and vowed to pursue legal redress.
During the election, Okpebholo won decisively in over 10 of Edo State’s 18 local government areas, while Ighodalo claimed victory in the remaining councils with narrower margins. The APC also made significant inroads by securing two of the three key senatorial districts, giving the party a strong advantage in the highly contested race.
Okpebholo was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and was sworn in on November 12, 2024, succeeding outgoing PDP governor Godwin Obaseki at the Dennis Osadebe House.
What you should know
Governor Monday Okpebholo’s election victory in Edo State has been upheld by the Court of Appeal, solidifying his position after a strong showing at the polls.
However, the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo is not backing down, with plans to escalate the legal battle to the Supreme Court.
