By John Umeh
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected governor-elect of Edo State, bringing a decisive end to the legal battle that trailed the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary held earlier this year.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Wednesday, the three-member panel of justices dismissed the appeal filed by one of the APC governorship aspirants, Dennis Idahosa, who had challenged the validity of Okpebholo’s nomination. The appellate court held that the primary election was conducted in substantial compliance with the party’s guidelines and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Justice Haruna Tsammani, who read the lead judgment, noted that the appellant failed to provide sufficient evidence to support claims of irregularities and alleged manipulation during the primary election. The court ruled that the lower court was right in its earlier decision to uphold Okpebholo’s candidacy.
“The appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed,” the judge stated, affirming that Okpebholo was duly nominated and remains the valid flag bearer of the APC for the Edo gubernatorial election scheduled for September 2025.
Reacting to the judgment, Senator Okpebholo expressed gratitude to the judiciary for what he described as “a victory for democracy, truth, and party unity.” He called on all aggrieved members of the party to close ranks and work together ahead of the general election.
“This is not just a personal victory, but a call to unity. We must now focus on delivering a message of progress to the good people of Edo State,” he said.
The APC leadership in Edo State also welcomed the ruling, describing it as a “timely boost” to the party’s preparations for the coming polls. The party urged all stakeholders to rally behind Okpebholo, whom it described as a tested and trusted leader capable of steering the state toward development.
Meanwhile, the legal team representing Dennis Idahosa has indicated that they are reviewing the judgment and will determine their next course of action in due time.
With this ruling, Okpebholo’s candidacy is now secure, placing him firmly in the race against other contenders in what is expected to be a tightly contested governorship election
