Jubilation In Aso Rock: Tinubu, Wike, Southern Leaders Celebrate Landmark S’Court Verdict

President Bola Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, following the Supreme Court’s verdict affirming his electoral victory, even as former Governor Godwin Obaseki described the judgment as a troubling sign for Nigeria’s democracy.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to NIVONEWS, the apex court’s ruling put to rest all legal contentions arising from the September 2024 gubernatorial election, in which Okpebholo was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). President Tinubu urged the governor to be magnanimous in victory and focus on accelerating development efforts in the state, now that all legal hurdles have been cleared.

Similarly, Southern Governors under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF), celebrated the ruling as a well-deserved validation of the people’s mandate. In a statement released in Abeokuta, Abiodun said the verdict has silenced insinuations that Okpebholo’s win was a fluke. He emphasized that the apex court’s decision provides the governor an opportunity to fully implement his developmental agenda without distraction.

According to NIVONEWS, the Southern Governors described the court’s affirmation as a boost to democratic consolidation, urging Governor Okpebholo to justify the trust placed in him. “No doubt, this victory is great news for democracy, for the APC, and most importantly, for the good people of Edo State,” Abiodun stated.

Also reacting to the judgment, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, congratulated the governor, stating that the Supreme Court had sealed the people’s mandate. Wike, through his spokesperson Lere Olayinka, said the ruling should be taken as a renewed call for Governor Okpebholo to deepen his commitment to service delivery in Edo State. He also appealed to the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, to accept the ruling in good faith and collaborate for the progress of the state.

However, Ighodalo, in a strongly worded statement, said he accepted the finality of the Supreme Court’s decision but not the justice it purported to deliver. He described the 2024 election as a “coordinated robbery” rather than a democratic exercise. “Like you, I feel a deep sense of betrayal—not only from those who rigged the process but from institutions trusted to protect democracy,” he declared.

According to NIVONEWS, Ighodalo’s response has resonated among supporters of the PDP, many of whom view the Supreme Court’s validation of Okpebholo’s win as institutional complicity in undermining the people’s will. While acknowledging the courts’ authority, Ighodalo insisted that the struggle for Edo’s redemption was far from over.

The PDP, in a separate statement signed by its Edo State Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, echoed Ighodalo’s sentiments. While accepting the judgment respectfully, the party expressed disappointment and concern about what the judgment means for future elections. It emphasized the importance of electoral and judicial integrity in sustaining democracy.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented at the book launch event for Adoke earlier in the week, also weighed in indirectly, urging Nigerian leaders to uphold the virtues of justice and service. His remarks, although not directly addressing the Edo case, reinforced the prevailing discourse on the credibility of democratic institutions in Nigeria.

As the political dust settles in Edo, the contrasting reactions to the Supreme Court verdict continue to spark debate about Nigeria’s democratic future. Whether the ruling will pave the way for political reconciliation or deepen partisan divides remains to be seen.

”NIVONEWS REPORTS”