President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State after the Supreme Court affirmed his election on Thursday.
In a statement shared by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy, President Tinubu encouraged Governor Okpebholo to be magnanimous in victory and rally the citizens of Edo across divides towards a singular vision of advancing the state’s development.
The President stated that the hour has come for the governor to accelerate the delivery of exceptional services and good governance to the people of Edo State, which he started since his election.
President Tinubu also congratulated the leadership and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State and called for cohesion and dedication in effectively discharging the mandate given by the people.
”President Bola Tinubu congratulates Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on the affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court.
”The Edo State governorship election took place in September 2024, and Governor Okpebholo was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
”The Supreme Court, as the final arbiter, upheld the election of the governor today, ‘ the statement reads.
In a unanimous decision delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Asue Ighodalo, on the ground that the appeal “lacked merit.”,
The court upheld the previous decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, both of which had declared Okpebholo the validly elected governor.
The court stated that Ighodalo and the PDP failed to present “credible and admissible evidence” to substantiate their allegations of electoral irregularities, including claims of over-voting and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
