July 10 , 2025 | Abuja — The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday affirmed the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, effectively ending the legal challenge filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
The apex court, in its ruling, dismissed the appeal brought by Ighodalo and the PDP for lacking merit. The panel of justices held that the appellants failed to provide sufficient evidence to warrant overturning the election results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who delivered the lead judgment, stated that the PDP’s petition was “unsubstantiated” and that INEC acted within the confines of the law in declaring Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the March 2025 governorship election in Edo State.
The court further upheld the earlier decisions of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, both of which had affirmed Okpebholo’s victory.
Following the ruling, Governor Okpebholo expressed gratitude to the judiciary for upholding the will of the people and called on all stakeholders, including the opposition, to join hands with his administration in advancing the development of Edo State.
“The time for politics is over. It’s now time to work together for the progress of our dear state,” Okpebholo said.
This verdict brings a final close to the legal tussle surrounding the 2025 governorship election in Edo State.
