The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Thursday, July 10, 2025, delivered its final verdict on the protracted legal dispute surrounding the outcome of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, affirming Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected governor of the state.
A five-member panel of justices, presided over by Justice Mohammed Garba, unanimously dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo, for lacking merit.
The decision brought to an end months of intense legal battles and uncertainty following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the gubernatorial poll.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Garba stated that the appellants—Asue Ighodalo and the PDP—failed to present compelling and credible evidence to support their claims that the election was marred by irregularities or that Okpebholo did not lawfully secure the majority of votes cast.
He also emphasized that the appellants could not prove that the rulings of both the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which earlier upheld Okpebholo’s victory, were in any way perverse or against the weight of evidence.
“The appeal is hereby dismissed for lacking in merit,” Justice Garba declared. “Accordingly, the judgments of the tribunal and the Court of Appeal are affirmed.”
Prior to the final ruling, the Supreme Court had earlier reserved judgment after hearing the final arguments from all legal counsels involved in the case.
During the session held on Wednesday, lawyers representing both the APC and the PDP presented their concluding submissions before the apex court. Justice Garba led the proceedings, after which the court informed parties that judgment would be delivered at a later date.
The PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo (SAN), had approached the Supreme Court to overturn the decisions of the lower courts and challenge the declaration of Senator Okpebholo as governor by INEC.
They alleged electoral malpractices and irregularities during the conduct of the September 2024 election, arguing that the results did not reflect the will of the people.
Supreme Court Reserves Judgment in Edo Gov Election Dispute
With the Supreme Court’s ruling, all legal avenues for contesting the election results have been exhausted, and Senator Monday Okpebholo’s position as the Governor of Edo State stands constitutionally and legally confirmed.