The Courtroom of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday, Could 29, upheld the election of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) because the duly elected governor of Edo State.
Delivering judgment, a three-member panel of the appellate courtroom dismissed the enchantment filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, ruling that it lacked benefit.
Within the lead judgment delivered by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the tribunal dominated that the petitioners didn’t show non-compliance with the Electoral Act, significantly as a result of they didn’t name polling unit officers, presiding officers or voters to help their claims.
Justice Kpochi had stated, “Non-compliance have to be confirmed convincingly.”
The courtroom dominated that the appellants didn’t show that the election tribunal erred in its earlier judgment and affirmed the tribunal’s determination delivered on April 2.
It additionally maintained that Okpebholo’s victory within the September 21, 2024, governorship election stands.
READ ALSO: ‘Grateful to God and Edo Individuals,’ Okpebholo Responds to Tribunal Victory
Reacting to the judgment, the PDP stated it will problem the ruling on the Supreme Courtroom.
Okpebholo had emerged winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship election, polling 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo who scored 247,274.
Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party got here third with 22,763 votes. Fourteen different candidates trailed behind.
The APC candidate secured victories in additional than 10 of the 18 native authorities areas, and gained management of two of the state’s three senatorial districts.
He was declared winner by the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) and sworn in on November 12, 2024, succeeding Godwin Obaseki of the PDP.
Ighodalo, disputing the result, had approached the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which in April 2025 dismissed his petition for lack of proof.
