JUST IN: Appeal Court affirms Okpebholo’s election as Edo governor

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the election of Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, dealing a major blow to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

Ighodalo had challenged the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election, alleging irregularities and electoral malpractice.

However, the appellate court dismissed his petition, affirming that the election was conducted in substantial compliance with the law and that Okpebholo was validly elected.

In a swift reaction, the PDP rejected the ruling, announcing its decision to approach the Supreme Court to seek redress.

Party officials insist that the will of the people was subverted and maintain confidence in reclaiming the mandate through the apex court.

At the poll last September, Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 291,667 votes to defeat PDP’s Ighodalo who got 247,274 votes, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) who came a distant third in the race with 22,763 votes. Fourteen other candidates contested the seat but got less than the three frontline candidates.

The APC candidate cleared over 10 of the 18 local government areas, leaving the PDP candidate with a marginal victory in the other local councils. The APC gained control in two of the three battleground senatorial districts in the state.

He was immediately declared returned elected by the electoral umpire INEC and sworn in as governor on November 12, 2024 when he took over the much-coveted seat at the Dennis Osadebe House from PDP’s Godwin Obaseki.