Appeal Court Upholds Okpebholo’s Election, Dismisses PDP’s Case

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the election victory of Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, following the September 21, 2024 governorship election. A three-man panel, led by Justice Mohamed Danjuma, dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, affirming Okpebholo’s win.

The PDP and Ighodalo had challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s declaration of Okpebholo as the winner, alleging electoral irregularities and over-voting. However, both the Election Petition Tribunal and the Appeal Court ruled that the petitioners failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims.

The Appeal Court also expunged evidence related to 133 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, stating that the tribunal erred in admitting them as evidence. The court emphasized that the petitioners did not present polling unit agents or presiding officers to substantiate their allegations.

With this ruling, Okpebholo’s election victory remains intact, reinforcing the APC’s hold on Edo State. The PDP may still seek redress at the Supreme Court, which has the final say on election disputes