EDO GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION: AT LAST GOVERNOR MONDAY OKPEBHOLO’S ELECTION VALIDATED ........EDO ATTORNEY GENERAL

EDO GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION: AT LAST GOVERNOR MONDAY OKPEBHOLO’S ELECTION VALIDATED

........EDO ATTORNEY GENERAL 

The Legal battle against the election of the People's Governor,  Senator Monday Okpebholo has finally been laid to rest with the full panel of five Supreme Court Justices led by Hon Justice Mohammed Garba JSC dismissing the appeal filed against concurrent judgment of  the Edo State Governorship election petition tribunal and the court of appeal. 

The inspiring aspect of this legal battle is that all  three levels of courts and their Justices and judges were unanimous that the petition of Asue Ighodalo and his party lacks merit. In the separate judgements, the courts, held that the Petitioners fail to prove that the election in which Governor Monday Okpebholo was declared elected by the independent Electoral Commission was marred by irregularities particularly over voting and non recording of serial numbers of ballots papers on Form EC-25A.

Indeed, the Supreme Court in upholding the admission of the BVAS from the evidence of the Appellants held that the Court of Appeal was right in invalidating the admission 9f the bvas as the requisite consent of the parties were not sought and obtained before they were tendered and admitted from the bar 

While the Supreme Court resolved two issues in favour of the Appellants,  which issues relates to the specific units that the appellants were challenged by the Appellants rather than the entire election,  the Supreme resolved the fourth and fifth issues for determination relating to whether the Appellants established non-compliance with the Electoral Act were resolved against the Appellants (PDP and Ighodalo). 

The Supreme Court found that the Appellants' failure to call sufficient and credible witnesses, particularly polling unit agents, was detrimental to their case. Additionally, the Court held that the Appellants did not tender admissible and credible evidence to substantiate their allegations of over-voting. 

The Court further noted that the mere dumping of BVAS machines on the Tribunal, without proper demonstration or linkage, was both fatal to the Appellants’ case and contrary to established legal principles.

On the whole, the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo has been validated wirh the affirmation of the concurrent judgment of the tribunal and the court of appeal 

Consequently, the legal battle has successfully ended And governance proper is now the major focus of the Governor 

Edo people can now look with great expectations to a new Edo that is rising in the horizon. The evidence are clear and unambiguous.  Governor Monday Okpebholo is on a new trajectory for a new Edo State. 

Congratulations to Governor Monday Okpebholo and his Deputy 

Congratulations to the All Progressives Congress. 

Congratulations to Edo people 

Rt Hon Samson R Osagie, FICMC, Ph.D 

Hon Attorney General And Commissioner For Justice 

10th July 2025.