Tinubu, Govs Forum Congratulate Okpebholo On S’Court Victory  …As Obaseki Expresses Disappointment 

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on the affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court, yesterday.

Tinubu urged him to unify the state and accelerate the delivery of good governance.

This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“President Bola Tinubu congratulates Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on the affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court.

The Tide reports that 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 yesterday.

Following the conclusion of all legal challenges regarding the 2024 election, Tinubu called on the governor to embrace all citizens of the state, irrespective of political affiliations.

“President Tinubu encourages 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 statement read.

With the legal battles now behind, the President advised the governor to intensify his governance agenda.

“The President advises that now that the governor has cleared the legal hurdles, it is time for him to accelerate the delivery of exceptional services and good governance to the people of Edo State, which he has already begun to do,” the statement added.

Tinubu also congratulated members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Edo State for the legal victory.

Meanwhile, Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Dapo Abiodun, has also hailed the Supreme Court’s affirmation of Okpebholo as Governor of Edo State, describing it as a well-earned victory.

Abiodun, who stated this in a statement issued on behalf of the forum in Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday, said the verdict had laid to rest any insinuation that the victory of Okpebholo, who won the September 21, 2024, governorship election with 291,667 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,655 votes, was a fluke.

He said that with the apex court’s verdict, the Edo State Governor now has the opportunity to devote full attention to actualising the agenda for which the Edo electorate gave him an overwhelming mandate, without any political distractions.

Abiodun stated, “On behalf of my brothers in the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF), I heartily welcome the verdict of the Supreme Court today, Thursday, affirming what Edo State people and Nigerians had known all along, namely that on September 21, 2024, Edo State voters gave Governor Monday Okpebholo a mandate to pilot their affairs for the next four years.

“The verdict shows that, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and earlier validated by the Election Petitions Tribunal, the Court of Appeal, the legitimacy of Governor Okpebholo’s mandate cannot be questioned.

“No doubt, this victory is great news for democracy in Nigeria, for the people of Edo State, for our great Party the All Progressives Congress, and for good governance and the development of our dear country.

“Democracy may be imperfect but it represents the best form of government available to us as a people, and there is no doubt that this victory further consolidates and strengthens it Nigeria.

“Significantly, the victory represents the arrival of good things for the great people of Edo State and Nigeria as a whole.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the expectations of the people will be fully met by the pro-people, focused and dynamic government of my dear brother, Governor Monday Okpebholo.”

However, the ex-governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki, expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court’s judgment.

In a statement issued via X shortly after the verdict yesterday, Obaseki thanked the people of Edo State and Nigerians for their support, while insisting that the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, won the governorship election held on September 21, 2024.

“I am profoundly grateful to the good people of Edo State and Nigerians for their overwhelming support for the victory, which we believe our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, won,” Obaseki stated.

The former governor noted that the PDP pursued legal redress through all available judicial channels, beginning with the Election Petition Tribunal, then the Court of Appeal, and finally the Supreme Court, due to their conviction that the results were manipulated.

“But unfortunately, and most surprisingly, all the courts have ruled against us,” he said.

Obaseki acknowledged the binding nature of the verdict despite strong disagreement.

“Although we strongly disagree with the decision of the Supreme Court, but as adherents to the rule of law, we are bound by their verdict,” he said.

He warned, however, that the manner in which the election was conducted and judicially validated could endanger Nigeria’s democracy.

“We want to caution that the iconic manner in which the Edo election was manipulated, coupled with the judicial validation it has received, portends grave danger for Nigeria’s democracy,” he added.

The governor concluded by urging faith and perseverance.

“As people of faith, we leave our matter in God’s hands, trusting that only He knows the appropriate time and manner to deliver divine justice and redemption to our people. I encourage our people to keep hope alive as we persist in the struggle to redeem our fatherland,” he said.

The Supreme Court, yesterday, upheld the election of Okpebholo, dismissing the appeal filed by PDP’s governorship candidate, Ighodalo.

A five-member panel of the apex court, in a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Lawal Garba, ruled that the appellants failed to prove their claims of over-voting, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, and other electoral irregularities.

The court held that Ighodalo failed to substantiate his allegations, challenging results from only 395 of the 4,519 polling units and calling 19 witnesses whose testimonies failed to aid his case.

Justice Garba stated that there was no convincing evidence to overturn the decisions of the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which had both affirmed Okpebholo’s victory.