The Immediate past governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has expressed strong reservations over the ruling of the Supreme Court affirming Senator Monday Okpebholo’s election, warning that the outcome poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic system.
In a statement released on Thursday, Obaseki, who served as governor from 2016 to 2024, described the judgment as deeply disappointing and a judicial stamp on what he termed a manipulated process.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, pursued all legal avenues with conviction that the mandate given to them by the people was stolen.
“It is based on this conviction, and our belief that the results were manipulated, that we took steps to seek legal redress. Beginning with the Election Petition Tribunal, then the Court of Appeal, and finally, the Supreme Court. But unfortunately, and most surprisingly, all the courts have ruled against us,” he stated.
Obaseki maintained that while his party respects the rule of law and the finality of the Supreme Court, the broader implications of the ruling cannot be ignored. “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 warned.
He commended the people of Edo and Nigerians at large for their unwavering support, noting that their faith in the democratic process must not wane despite the outcome. “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,” he added.
Obaseki called on the citizens to remain resilient and continue striving for the redemption of the state and the nation at large. “I encourage our people to keep hope alive as we persist in the struggle to redeem our fatherland,” he said.
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment delivered earlier in the day by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba, dismissed Ighodalo’s appeal for lacking merit and affirmed Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected governor of Edo State.
