The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has unanimously upheld Senator Monday Okpebholo's election as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, the appellate court ruled that the September 24, 2024 gubernatorial election was validly conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and that Governor Okpebholo was properly returned and declared as winner.

The three-man panel of justices found that the appeal lacked merit and subsequently dismissed it in its entirety. Justice Danjuma specifically noted that both the PDP and Ighodalo failed to establish any miscarriage of justice in the earlier judgment delivered by the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal, which had previously dismissed their petition.

Legal Battle Concludes

The judgment represents a significant legal victory for Governor Okpebholo, who has faced challenges to his election since the gubernatorial polls held last year. The unanimous decision by the appellate court further solidifies his position as the legitimate governor of Edo State.

This ruling comes as the latest development in the post-election legal tussle that has characterized Edo State politics since the September 2024 gubernatorial election. The PDP and its candidate had approached the appellate court after their initial petition was dismissed at the tribunal level.

Political observers note that this judgment may significantly impact the political landscape in Edo State, as it appears to have closed one of the major legal avenues available to the opposition to challenge the current administration.

Neither the PDP nor Asue Ighodalo has issued an official response to the judgment at the time of this report. It remains to be seen whether they will pursue further legal options at the Supreme Court or accept the appellate court's decision.