Benin City, Nigeria – Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has declared the recent Appeal Court ruling affirming his election as a landmark victory not only for the All Progressives Congress (APC) but for democracy in Nigeria. In a celebratory rally across Benin City, the governor said the defeat of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at all judicial levels signifies a shift in Edo’s political future.
Joined by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, senior APC leaders, and a wave of supporters, Governor Okpebholo led a victory motorcade that highlighted widespread public endorsement of the court’s decision.
Speaking at the rally, Okpebholo emphasized that this third successive win—from the gubernatorial polls, through the Election Tribunal, and now at the Appeal Court—demonstrates the will of the people and the integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary.
“This is not just a legal win, it is the voice of Edo people prevailing over political manipulation. We are confident that even if the PDP heads to the Supreme Court, they will meet the same fate,” Okpebholo said.
He further accused the opposition of attempting to use financial inducement to sway court proceedings, but commended the Nigerian judiciary for “resisting pressure and upholding the truth.”
Analysts see the ruling as a reinforcement of the APC’s grip in the region and a setback for the PDP, which has struggled to regain dominance. Okpebholo also hinted at the collapse of any PDP-led coalition involving national figures like Atiku Abubakar or Peter Obi.
International observers note that the APC’s growing influence in the South-South region reflects a national realignment ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
Projects like the Ikpoba-Hill flyover and Okpebholo’s development-first rhetoric are helping cement local support. “We are not stopping. This is a new era for Edo,” the governor said.
