Raphael Kanu
In a decisive ruling that puts an end to the legal battle over the Edo State governorship, the Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of the state, striking out the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
The apex court dismissed Ighodalo’s case for lacking merit, bringing closure to months of intense political and legal wrangling following the disputed polls. The ruling marks a final legal victory for Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and solidifies his hold on the state’s highest office.
The legal contest had travelled from the lower courts through the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court, with Ighodalo alleging irregularities in the election and seeking to overturn the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Okpebholo as the winner.
In its unanimous judgment delivered in Abuja, the Supreme Court held that the appellant failed to present convincing evidence to warrant the nullification of the results. Legal observers noted that the ruling reinforces the sanctity of INEC’s electoral processes and highlights the burden of proof on petitioners in electoral disputes.
Reactions have begun to trail the verdict, with APC supporters celebrating across parts of Benin City. Meanwhile, Ighodalo and the PDP are yet to issue an official response at the time of filing this report.
The Supreme Court’s decision now paves the way for Governor Okpebholo to continue with his mandate without the legal distractions that have clouded his early days in office. More details are expected to follow.