The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed displeasure with the Supreme Court judgment affirming the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
In a statement issued shortly after the case’s conclusion on its X account, Ighodalo said, “Today, the Supreme Court has ruled. Though I accept the finality of its judgment, I do not and cannot pretend that what was delivered amounts to justice.”
On Thursday, the Supreme Court issued its final decision on the election, confirming Okpebholo as the legitimate winner.
Okpebholo, on the other hand, declared the judgement to be the start of a new era in Edo’s development.
Speaking immediately after the verdict in Abuja, the governor said the verdict was a reaffirmation of the sacred mandate freely given by the people of Edo State.
“This definitive verdict is not merely a legal triumph—it is a solemn reaffirmation of the sacred mandate freely given by the people of Edo State.
“It signals the beginning of a fresh chapter rooted in unity, inclusiveness, and accelerated development,” Okpebholo said in a statement made available by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua.
Following the verdict, there was jubilation at the Supreme Court premises, with supporters of the governor dancing and singing in celebration.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Lawal Garba, ruled that the appellant failed to show charges of over-voting, noncompliance with the Electoral Act, and other breaches mentioned as reasons to dispute Okpebholo’s electoral victory.
In a unanimous decision, the court determined that based on the facts presented, Ighodalo was not legitimately elected by the majority of lawful votes cast.
The court specifically observed that the PDP candidate failed to demonstrate charges of non-compliance, challenging the results in only 395 of the 4,519 polling units where elections were held.
The panel of justices also determined that the 19 witnesses called during the trial were insufficient to support the appellant’s argument in challenging the election results.
The panel also found no grounds to overturn the lower courts’ previous decisions, stating that the appellant failed to demonstrate without a doubt admissible evidence to the argument that the election was tainted by irregularities and overvoting.
INEC announced that Okpebholo, who was sponsored by the All Progressives Congress, won the Edo State governorship election on September 21, 2024, with 291,667 votes, while Ighodalo, the PDP candidate, finished in second with 247,655 votes.
Not satisfied with the declaration, Ighodalo and the PDP went to the election tribunal to protest the victory.
On April 2, 2025, a three-member panel of the Edo State governorship election petition tribunal chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi unanimously dismissed Ighodalo’s complaints due to an inability to prove the claims.
Both Ighodalo and the PDP went to the Appeal Court, and on May 29, 2025, the Abuja Division of the court upheld the verdict of the Edo State governorship election petition tribunal, which confirmed Okpebholo’s victory.
The three-member panel unanimously dismissed Ighodalo’s appeal, calling it devoid of substance.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court issued its final decision on the election, resolving all electoral issues over the September 21, 2024, election and validating Okpebholo’s victory in the hotly contested race.
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However, Ighodalo challenged the judgement, saying that it did not constitute justice.
“What happened in the September 2024 governorship election was not a contest. It was a robbery – coordinated, deliberate – and now, tragically, validated by the highest court in the land.
“While I will not and cannot obstruct any judicial pronouncement, no matter how flawed, I must never fear to speak truth to power.
“Like you, I feel a deep sense of betrayal. Not just by those who rigged the process, but by the very institutions we trusted to protect our democracy.
“Though this painful chapter closes today, our beautiful story does not end. The struggle to reclaim the soul of our beloved state continues.”
Ighodalo said Edo State would feel the judgement most in the absence of leadership, poverty of policy and in the daily suffering of its people.
“Yes, dark days may lie ahead. The weight of this illegitimacy will, unfortunately, echo beyond the halls of the Supreme Court.
“I fear Edo will feel it in the absence of leadership, in the poverty of policy, and in the daily suffering of her people,” he said.
