Appeal Court Affirms Monday Okpebholo as Edo State Governor

 

The legal battle for the Edo State governorship appears to have reached a significant turning point! The Court of Appeal in Abuja has today, Thursday, May 29, 2025, delivered a landmark judgment, upholding the election of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected governor of Edo State.

This ruling dismisses the appeal filed by Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and his party, who had challenged the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election.

A three-member panel of the appellate court delivered a unanimous decision, unequivocally stating that the PDP's appeal lacked merit. The justices affirmed that the appellants failed to demonstrate any error in the judgment previously handed down by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on April 2. That tribunal had, at the time, validated Okpebholo’s victory.

In its decisive ruling, the Court of Appeal maintained that the tribunal’s findings and conclusions were sound, well-reasoned, and entirely in accordance with the law. This affirmation effectively solidifies Monday Okpebholo's position as the legitimate winner of the keenly contested election.

While this judgment marks a major victory for Okpebholo and the APC, and brings a level of finality to the legal challenges at the appellate level, it remains to be seen if the legal tussle will proceed to the Supreme Court. For now, however, the Edo State governorship mandate stands confirmed by the Court of Appeal.