BREAKING NEWS: Ighodalo angry as Tinubu, govs praise Okpebholo’s court victory

Monday Okpebholo and Asue Ighodalo

 The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court judgment affirming the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

In a statement released shortly after the close of the case on its X handle, Ighodalo said, “Today, the Supreme Court has ruled. Though I accept the finality of its judgment, I do not and cannot pretend that what was delivered amounts to justice.”

On Thursday, the apex court gave the final verdict on the election, affirming Okpebholo as the authentic winner.

Okpebholo, however, declared the judgment as the beginning of a fresh chapter of development in Edo. Speaking immediately after the delivery of the judgment in Abuja, the governor said the verdict was a reaffirmation of the sacred mandate freely given by the people of Edo State.

“This definitive verdict is not merely a legal triumph—it is a solemn reaffirmation of the sacred mandate freely given by the people of Edo State.

“It signals the beginning of a fresh chapter rooted in unity, inclusiveness, and accelerated development,” Okpebholo said in a statement made available by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua.

There was jubilation at the Supreme Court complex immediately after the judgment, as supporters of the governor danced and sang, celebrating the verdict.

A five-member panel of the apex court, in the lead judgment delivered by Justice Lawal Garba, held that the appellant failed to prove allegations of over-voting, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and other infractions cited as grounds to challenge Okpebholo’s electoral victory.

In a unanimous judgment, the court ruled that based on the evidence before it, Ighodalo was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast.

Specifically, the court noted that the PDP candidate failed to substantiate claims of non-compliance, having only challenged the results in 395 out of the 4,519 polling units where elections were conducted.

The panel of justices further held that the 19 witnesses called during the trial were not sufficient enough to help the case of the appellant in challenging the outcome of the election.

The panel also held that it found no reason to set aside the previous judgments of the lower courts, noting that the appellant failed to prove without doubt admissible evidence to the claim that the election was marred by irregularities and over-voting.

In the Edo State governorship election held on September 21, 2024, INEC declared that Okpebholo, who was sponsored by the All Progressives Congress, polled 291,667 votes to emerge the winner, while Ighodalo, the PDP candidate, came second with 247,655 votes.

Not satisfied with the declaration, Ighodalo and the PDP proceeded to the election tribunal to challenge the victory.

On April 2, 2025, a three-member panel of the Edo State governorship election petition tribunal chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, in a unanimous decision, dismissed Ighodalo’s petitions for inability to prove the allegations.

Both Ighodalo and PDP proceeded to the Appeal Court and, on May 29, 2025, the Abuja Division of the court upheld the decision of the Edo State governorship election petition tribunal which affirmed Okpebholo’s victory.

The three-member panel, in a unanimous decision, dismissed Ighodalo’s appeal, describing it as devoid of merit.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court gave the final verdict on the election, closing all electoral disputes over the September 21, 2024 election and affirming Okpebholo’s victory in the keenly-contested election.

But Ighodalo kicked against the judgment, claiming that it did not amount to justice.

“What happened in the September 2024 governorship election was not a contest. It was a robbery – coordinated, deliberate – and now, tragically validated by the highest court in the land.

“While I will not and cannot obstruct any judicial pronouncement, no matter how flawed, I must never fear to speak truth to power.

“Like you, I feel a deep sense of betrayal. Not just by those who rigged the process, but by the very institutions we trusted to protect our democracy.

“Though this painful chapter closes today, our beautiful story does not end. The struggle to reclaim the soul of our beloved state continues.”

He said Edo State would feel the judgment most in the absence of leadership, poverty of policy and in the daily suffering of its people.

“Yes, dark days may lie ahead. The weight of this illegitimacy will, unfortunately, echo beyond the halls of the Supreme Court.

“I fear Edo will feel it in the absence of leadership, in the poverty of policy, and the daily suffering of her people,” he said.

Okpebholo, however, said the judgment confirmed his election victory. He described it as a solemn reaffirmation of the sacred mandate freely given to him by the people of Edo State.

In a statement by Itua, the governor said the victory was not merely a legal triumph but a shared triumph for every Edo citizen, regardless of political, ethnic, or religious affiliation.

“The Supreme Court today delivered a landmark judgment affirming Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, bringing to end all legal contestations arising from the 2024 governorship election.

“Governor Monday Okpebholo extends profound gratitude to the judiciary for its courage and fidelity to justice, and to the great people of Edo State for their unflinching support, patience, and faith in democracy.

“He views this moment not as a personal victory but as a shared triumph for every Edo citizen, regardless of political, ethnic, or religious affiliation,” he said.

The governor extended an olive branch to all his opponents and members of the opposition.

“The elections are over, the real work of governance and healing must begin,” he said. President Bola Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, congratulated Okpebholo on the Supreme Court victory and called for unity and accelerated development in Edo.

The statement read: “President Bola Tinubu congratulates Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on the affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court.

“The Edo State governorship election took place in September 2024, and Governor Okpebholo was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The Supreme Court, as the final arbiter, upheld the election of the governor today.

“President Tinubu encourages Governor Okpebholo to be magnanimous in victory and rally the citizens of Edo across divides towards a singular vision of advancing the state’s development.

“The President advises that now that the governor has cleared the legal hurdles, it is time for him to accelerate the delivery of exceptional services and good governance to the people of Edo State, which he has already begun to do.

“President Tinubu also congratulates the leadership and members of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State and calls for cohesion and dedication in effectively discharging the mandate given by the people.”

Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Dapo Abiodun, described the Supreme Court’s validation of Okpebholo’s governorship election as a well-deserved victory.

Abiodun, who stated this in a statement issued on behalf of the forum in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said the verdict had laid to rest any insinuation that the victory was a fluke.

He said that with the apex court’s verdict, Okpebholo now had the opportunity to devote full attention to actualising the agenda for which the Edo electorate gave him an overwhelming mandate, without any political distractions.

“On behalf of my brothers in the Southern Governors’ Forum, I heartily welcome the verdict of the Supreme Court today, Thursday, affirming what Edo State people and Nigerians had known all along, namely that on September 21, 2024, Edo State voters gave Governor Monday Okpebholo a mandate to pilot their affairs for the next four years.

“The verdict shows that, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission and earlier validated by the Election Petitions Tribunal, the Court of Appeal, the legitimacy of Governor Okpebholo’s mandate cannot be questioned.

“No doubt, this victory is great news for democracy in Nigeria, for the people of Edo State, for our great Party the All Progressives Congress, and for good governance and the development of our dear country,” he said.

The APC in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, welcomed the judgment and congratulated Okpebholo on the historic victory.

“We thank our teeming members, supporters and the good people of Edo State for their steadfast support during the legal challenge.

“We commend the judiciary for its dedication, professionalism and commitment to the rule of law, constitutional order and defence of electoral democracy as demonstrated in the adjudication of the matter.

“With the final judicial affirmation, Governor Okpebholo is now poised to expand and consolidate on the monumental development strides he has started since his inauguration as governor,” the statement read.

It urged all concerned parties, particularly the opposition contenders to join hands with Okpebholo to deliver good governance and development for the shared progress of Edo State and its people.

Edo APC, through its chairman, Jarret Tenebe, hailed the judgment and thanked Edo people for coming out to massively vote for Okpebholo.

He said in a statement, “I wish to thank the judiciary because they have really proven they are the last hope of the common man. Edo State people are the common man.

“I also want to use this victory to thank our lawyers and Asue Ighodalo’s lawyers for encouraging him to waste his money from the lower court up to the Supreme Court.

“And I also want to thank the Edo people who came out massively to vote for Senator Okpebholo. If not, for them, we would not be getting this development in the state today.

“Now the state will witness more and more developments. We have to fix Edo State.”

Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohonbamu, described the judgment as a victory for Edo people from the shackles of bad governance.

The commissioner noted in a statement that the judgment had vindicated the Edo people that they voted for a visionary leader who had been destined to make Edo rise again.

“Today, Edo people celebrate a significant victory for our state from the hands of those who are more concerned about their personal interest and watch the people suffer untold hardship.

“We celebrate a significant victory as our elected Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo emerges triumphant from the Supreme Court to give selfless service to his people.

“This milestone no doubt is a testament to the trust in the leadership qualities of the Governor who has demonstrated his resolve to make Edo State one of the foremost leading states in the country in all ramifications,” Ohonbamu added.

Chairman of the State PDP Caretaker Committee, Tony Aziegbemi, urged the party faithful to stay peaceful, noting that the party would continue to engage with the people.

He added, “We have come to the end of a long legal journey, culminating in the judgment of the Supreme Court.

“As a party that believes in the rule of law and the democratic process, we have received the decision of the court with the utmost respect.

“Though the judgment did not go in our favour, we accept it with grace and dignity. However, let us be clear, our faith is not in man alone.

“The Supreme Court has spoken, yes, but the Supreme God, the Almighty, remains the final and ultimate judge.

“He speaks for the people. He sees the intentions of hearts, the desires of the people of Edo State, and the direction in which they truly wish to go.”