In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, 2nd April, 2025, by the Election Petition Tribunal, the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), His Excellency Monday Okpebholo defeated the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in an election petition filed by the latter.
The Election Petition Tribunal is the first legal step that candidates who feel dissatisfied in an election undertake to seek for a judgment that will favour them.
After the Edo State Governorship election held last year 2024, the candidate of the PDP and party filed election petition against the declared winner of the election and the party APC but in a judgement delivered on Wednesday, the Tribunal refused to sack the incumbent Governor of Edo State who was declared the duly elected Governor of the State in the Governorship election conducted by INEC.
The Judgement delivered on Wednesday is the end of the road in the Election petition filed by Barr Asue Ighodalo and his party PDP at the Tribunal, but there are two more available windows that they can explore in the case.
Governorship cases start at the Tribunal before the Appeal Court and are finally buried at the Supreme Court, which is the last resort and final bus stop.
The Governor of Edo State Senator Monday Okpebholo, his deputy Rt. Hon Denis Idahosa, APC and their supporters emerged victorious in the election petition filed by their major opponent in the Edo State Governorship election held last year.
Recall that during the election, the former Governor of the State Godwin Obaseki supported the candidate of his party in the election, while his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshomohole, Senator Matthew Urugide, former Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu, the ruling party All Progressive Congress (APC) rallied their support for Senator Monday Okpebholo and his running mate Rt. Hon Dennis Idahosa.
The election victory secured by the candidate of the APC returned the party to Edo State as the ruling party in the state after former Governor Godwin Obaseki left APC to defect to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a bid to secure his second tenure mandate.