President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Governor Monday Okpebholo on the Supreme Court’s affirmation of his election as Governor of Edo State, describing the verdict as a “massive win for democracy.”
In a statement issued on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu urged Governor Okpebholo to remain magnanimous in victory and focus on uniting the people of Edo to deliver rapid development and good governance.
“This is a time to rally everyone, regardless of political affiliation, towards a common goal of progress for Edo State,” the President stated, adding that the governor must now accelerate the delivery of exceptional public services — a task he has already begun since assuming office.
Tinubu also extended his congratulations to the leadership and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, calling for greater cohesion and dedication in fulfilling the people’s mandate.
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous ruling delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba, dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for lacking merit.
The apex court affirmed the earlier decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, both of which upheld the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Okpebholo as the winner of the September 2024 gubernatorial election.
The justices ruled that the PDP and its candidate failed to provide credible and admissible evidence to prove allegations of electoral irregularities, including over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
