By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on International Development Partners, Hon. Collins Edomaruse, has welcomed today’s Supreme Court judgment affirming the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo as a “resounding affirmation of the democratic will of the Edo people.”
The Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling on Thursday, affirmed Senator Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, following the September 21, 2024 off-cycle governorship election.
In a unanimous decision by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba, the apex court dismissed as lacking in merit, an appeal the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo, filed to nullify the outcome of the governorship election.
According to the Supreme Court, it found no reason to set-aside the concurrent judgements of both the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which returned Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the valid winner of the gubernatorial contest.
Reacting to the ruling, Edomaruse, in a statement issued on Thursday, in Benin City, congratulated Governor Okpebholo, on what he described as an emphatic and landmark victory at Nigeria’s apex court.
“On behalf of my office — and indeed the entire ecosystem of development partners working with Edo State — I warmly and wholeheartedly congratulate my principal and boss, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on his emphatic victory today at the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” he said.
According to Edomaruse, the unanimous ruling was more than a personal vindication for Governor Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC); it reflected the true choice of the people as expressed during the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
“This landmark judgment by the apex court is not just a personal vindication for His Excellency and our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC); it is a resounding affirmation of the democratic will of the great people of Edo State as freely expressed at the polls,” he stated.
The Special Adviser praised the courage demonstrated by the Supreme Court Justices, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, for upholding the sanctity of the ballot and restoring public confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
“We commend the Justices of the Supreme Court, under the leadership of Justice Mohammed Garba, for upholding the sanctity of the ballot and reinforcing the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man,” Edomaruse said.
“The clarity, courage, and unanimity of their verdict underscore the rule of law and the principle that no amount of litigation can overturn the clear mandate of the people when it is rooted in transparency and legitimacy.”
Edomaruse commended Edo people for their steadfastness throughout the post-election litigation period “To my fellow citizens of Edo State, whose unwavering support, patience, and faith in this administration have once again been vindicated by this ruling — you stood firm through months of distractions, knowing that truth and justice would prevail — and today, it has,” he said.
The Special Adviser, on behalf of the development partners working with Edo State, extended a renewed invitation to both existing and prospective partners to engage with the Governor Okpebholo-led administration in confidence.
“As Special Adviser to the Governor on International Development Partners, I wish to also take this opportunity to welcome our partners — both current and prospective — to join hands with us in renewed confidence, knowing that the mandate of Governor Okpebholo has been decisively settled,” he said.
“This verdict removes any lingering doubt, and provides a stable, secure, and legitimate platform upon which we can build stronger collaborations for the progress of Edo State.”
Edomaruse stressed that the ruling has far-reaching implications for governance, stability, and development in Edo.
“The significance of this Supreme Court ruling cannot be overemphasised: it closes the chapter on needless legal tussles, frees up precious time and energy to focus on the task of governance, and assures all Edo citizens and investors of political stability in the years ahead,” he noted.
He reaffirmed Governor Okpebholo’s commitment to delivering on his SHINE agenda — an acronym for Security, Health, Infrastructure, Nutrition, and Education — in line with the aspirations of the people and the trust they have placed in the governor.
“We remain committed to working tirelessly with His Excellency to deliver on his SHINE agenda — securing lives and property, improving healthcare, expanding infrastructure, promoting nutrition and agriculture, and reforming education — in line with the aspirations of our people and the confidence reposed in him.
“Once again, congratulations to His Excellency, and congratulations to the people of Edo State. Indeed, justice has prevailed, and the will of the people has triumphed,” Edomaruse concluded.
