The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba dismissed, for lacking in merit, the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Asuerinme Ighodalo.
The appeal sought to nullify the outcome of the governorship election held in the state on September 21, 2024.
The Supreme Court ruled that there was no justification to overturn the concurrent judgments of both the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which had earlier declared Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the valid winner of the election.
The court held that the appellant failed to provide credible and admissible evidence to support his claims that the election was marred by irregularities, including over-voting and substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Reacting to the judgement, Ighodalo, said that he felt a deep sense of betrayal in the Supreme Court judgment against his governorship bid.
Ighodalo, on Thursday, said though he accepted the finality of the judgment, “I do not and cannot pretend that what was delivered amounts to justice.”
He spoke in a statement he personally signed in Abuja shortly after the apex court ruled on the election dispute.
According to the PDP candidate, the election was not a contest but a robbery, stressing that it was “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.
”Not just by those who rigged the process, but by the very institutions we trusted to protect our democracy.
”You came out in hope. You voted for competence, for progress, for prosperity and now, we are told that your voice does not matter.
”That your freely given mandate can be trampled without consequence.
”I feel your pain. I share your anger. And I will never forget your courage.”
