Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has described the series of electoral defeats suffered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as cause for celebration among the people of Edo.
Speaking after the Appeal Court affirmed his election victory, Okpebholo, alongside his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, and a crowd of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters, including party leaders, youths, and market women, led a celebratory motorcade through the streets of Benin City on Friday.
“The PDP keeps giving us reasons to rejoice,” Okpebholo said. “We defeated them in the governorship election, at the Tribunal, and now at the Appeal Court. And we are confident of victory again at the Supreme Court.”
He credited divine intervention for his administration’s success and expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his continued support, adding that Edo State is making steady progress under APC leadership.
“Edo people will once again stand with President Tinubu in 2027. The voice of the people cannot be silenced—not by the PDP or anyone else,” he said.
Okpebholo accused the PDP of attempting to manipulate the judicial process using illicit funds, but praised the judiciary for upholding truth and justice.
He also criticised PDP leaders for alleging that their mandate was stolen, linking their stance to broader opposition coalitions led by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, which he said are bound to fail.
“The era of the PDP in Edo is over,” he declared. “Under my leadership, we are focused on delivering real development to our people.”
The governor pointed to ongoing infrastructure projects, including the construction of a flyover at Ikpoba-Hill and plans for two additional ones.
The Court of Appeal, in a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Danjuma on Thursday, dismissed the petition filed by PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo. The court ruled that the appeal lacked merit and that the PDP failed to substantiate any claims of irregularities in the September 21, 2024, election.
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