From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Southern Governors’ Forum has congratulated Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on the validation of his election by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, describing it as a well-deserved electoral victory.
The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, stated this in a statement issued on behalf of the Forum in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday, July 10, 2025. He 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 noted that with the Supreme Court’s verdict, the Edo State Governor now has the opportunity to devote full attention to actualizing the agenda for which the Edo electorate gave him an overwhelming mandate, without any political distractions.
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“On behalf of my brothers in the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF), I heartily welcome the verdict of the Supreme Court today, Thursday, affirming what the Edo State people and Nigerians have 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 and 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 (APC), 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 in 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,” Abiodun stated in the statement.
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