The legal battle over the 2024 Edo State governorship election is far from over as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, vow to challenge the ruling of the Court of Appeal affirming the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, on Thursday dismissed Ighodalo’s appeal as “unmeritorious” and affirmed the earlier verdict of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
“The appellants failed to demonstrate that the tribunal erred in law,” the panel held in its unanimous decision, which effectively sustained the legitimacy of Okpebholo’s tenure.
A Legal Climb to the Apex Court
In an immediate response, the PDP rejected the appellate court’s ruling, announcing its intention to proceed to the Supreme Court the final legal stop in Nigeria’s electoral dispute resolution process.
PDP insiders suggest the party is not only contesting the credibility of the electoral process but also raising broader questions about the independence and fairness of judicial interpretations of electoral law.
“We believe the will of the people must be defended, and this judgment falls short of that,” a PDP spokesperson said.
Recap of the Electoral Landscape
The September 21, 2024 election was fiercely contested, with Okpebholo securing 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo, who polled 247,274 votes. Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came a distant third with 22,763 votes.
Okpebholo, backed by a reinvigorated APC campaign, won in over 10 of Edo’s 18 local government areas, gaining dominance in two of the three key senatorial districts a decisive factor in his victory. Ighodalo managed to secure only marginal wins in the remaining LGAs.
INEC declared Okpebholo the winner and he was sworn in on November 12, 2024, succeeding outgoing PDP Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Tribunal Defeat: A Technical Blow to the PDP
Ighodalo’s initial petition at the Edo Governorship Election Tribunal was dismissed in April 2025, with the panel ruling that the PDP failed to substantiate claims of widespread irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the tribunal sharply criticized the PDP for failing to present credible witnesses, such as polling unit officers or even voters, to support their allegations. The lack of substantial evidence, the court said, undermined the petition from the outset.
“Allegations of electoral malpractice must be backed by solid, credible testimony,” the panel concluded, dealing a blow to the PDP’s legal strategy.
Okpebholo Consolidates Power Amid Legal Hurdles
Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Governor Okpebholo continues to govern from Dennis Osadebe House, gradually consolidating power and reshaping the political landscape of Edo State under the APC banner.
Analysts note that while the PDP still enjoys grassroots support in some parts of the state, the party’s internal divisions and legal missteps may be hampering its ability to effectively challenge the APC’s growing dominance.
As the case heads to the Supreme Court, the question now is not only whether the PDP can prove its claims but whether Nigeria’s judiciary will once again stand as the final arbiter in a tightly contested democratic process.
Conclusion: A Battle for Mandate and Momentum
With the 2027 general elections slowly approaching, the outcome of this legal tussle could shape the future of Edo State politics and perhaps influence opposition strategy at the national level. For Ighodalo and the PDP, the Supreme Court represents both a last hope and a critical test of legal endurance.
Whether that effort will yield a reversal or confirm yet another judicial defeat remains to be seen.
Ighodalo Heads to Supreme Court as Appeal Court Upholds Okpebholo’s Victory in Edo Gubernatorial Race
The legal battle over the 2024 Edo State governorship election is far from over as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, vow to challenge the ruling of the Court of Appeal affirming the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, on Thursday dismissed Ighodalo’s appeal as “unmeritorious” and affirmed the earlier verdict of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
“The appellants failed to demonstrate that the tribunal erred in law,” the panel held in its unanimous decision, which effectively sustained the legitimacy of Okpebholo’s tenure.
A Legal Climb to the Apex Court
In an immediate response, the PDP rejected the appellate court’s ruling, announcing its intention to proceed to the Supreme Court the final legal stop in Nigeria’s electoral dispute resolution process.
PDP insiders suggest the party is not only contesting the credibility of the electoral process but also raising broader questions about the independence and fairness of judicial interpretations of electoral law.
“We believe the will of the people must be defended, and this judgment falls short of that,” a PDP spokesperson said.
Recap of the Electoral Landscape
The September 21, 2024 election was fiercely contested, with Okpebholo securing 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo, who polled 247,274 votes. Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came a distant third with 22,763 votes.
Okpebholo, backed by a reinvigorated APC campaign, won in over 10 of Edo’s 18 local government areas, gaining dominance in two of the three key senatorial districts a decisive factor in his victory. Ighodalo managed to secure only marginal wins in the remaining LGAs.
INEC declared Okpebholo the winner and he was sworn in on November 12, 2024, succeeding outgoing PDP Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Tribunal Defeat: A Technical Blow to the PDP
Ighodalo’s initial petition at the Edo Governorship Election Tribunal was dismissed in April 2025, with the panel ruling that the PDP failed to substantiate claims of widespread irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Headed by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the tribunal sharply criticized the PDP for failing to present credible witnesses, such as polling unit officers or even voters, to support their allegations. The lack of substantial evidence, the court said, undermined the petition from the outset.
“Allegations of electoral malpractice must be backed by solid, credible testimony,” the panel concluded, dealing a blow to the PDP’s legal strategy.
Okpebholo Consolidates Power Amid Legal Hurdles
Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Governor Okpebholo continues to govern from Dennis Osadebe House, gradually consolidating power and reshaping the political landscape of Edo State under the APC banner.
Analysts note that while the PDP still enjoys grassroots support in some parts of the state, the party’s internal divisions and legal missteps may be hampering its ability to effectively challenge the APC’s growing dominance.
As the case heads to the Supreme Court, the question now is not only whether the PDP can prove its claims but whether Nigeria’s judiciary will once again stand as the final arbiter in a tightly contested democratic process.
Conclusion: A Battle for Mandate and Momentum
With the 2027 general elections slowly approaching, the outcome of this legal tussle could shape the future of Edo State politics and perhaps influence opposition strategy at the national level. For Ighodalo and the PDP, the Supreme Court represents both a last hope and a critical test of legal endurance.
Whether that effort will yield a reversal or confirm yet another judicial defeat remains to be seen.
Reference