Bad defending and a poor goalkeeping performance gifted the Blues their biggest win of the season and takes their winning home run to seven consecutive games.
A first-half strike from Jo set the scene for what turned out to be the Blues' best display of the season in front of goal with three second-half goals from Marouane Fellaini, Leon Osman and a second from Jo.
The home side started brightly with Steven Pienaar and Osman taking every opportunity to run at the Wigan defence and it was Osman who was gifted the first shooting chance of the half with only six minutes played.
A long punt upfield was cushioned into his path by Fellaini's header but, under pressure from three defenders, Osman rushed his shot and dragged it wide of the post.
Wigan were always going to pose a threat in attack with the tall physical presence of both Mido and Paul Scharner and the pair had chances inside the first 20 minutes.
Against the run of play an audacious back-heel from Scharner on the edge of the Everton area looped high to his strike partner but Mido's 20-yard volley fell kindly for Tim Howard who gathered at the first attempt.
The deadlock should have been broken through Scharner after neat passing from the visitors released Luis Antonio Valencia down the right and his deep cross was met by the forward who towered over Tony Hibbert but his header flew high over the bar.
Despite the good passage of play from Wigan it was David Moyes' side that went ahead through a neat left-footed finish from on-loan Brazilian striker Jo.
Another controlled header from Fellaini following a Joleon Lescott hoof upfield fell into the path of Osman and, after a quick look-up, he fed the ball to the unmarked Jo inside the box and he picked his spot and drilled a shot past Chris Kirkland into the far corner.
With neither keeper troubled too much in the opening 45, Howard was called into action twice in quick succession during the dying minutes with a tip around the post from a Ben Watson free-kick and a goal-line pick-up from Emmerson Boyce, taking his side in at the break with a one-goal lead which was only just deserved.
The second half saw Everton fly out of the starting blocks and the game looked all but sealed with two goals inside six minutes of the restart.
The Blues were allowed to work the ball upfield as Wigan sat back seemingly waiting for someone to shoot.
Slack defending on 46 minutes allowed Tony Hibbert to get to the byline and chip the ball over the first man and onto the toe of Fellaini who effortlessly stabbed home from six yards.
Moments later Jo bagged his second of the game when Fellaini controlled the ball on the edge of the box and hit a low drive across the keeper but, after failing to keep hold of the ball, Kirkland could only push it into the path of the striker who tapped into an empty net.
Wigan couldn't get out of their own half as they suffered a barrage of Everton attacks and it seemed only a matter of time before the defence cracked once again.
Playing his game of the season so far, Fellaini was instrumental in his side's fourth when he picked the ball up 30 yards out and drove a low effort across the keeper, who once again was at fault for the goal.
Almost mirroring Jo's finish moments earlier, Kirkland parried the ball and, with no defenders tracking back, he placed it at the foot of Osman who was faced with only an empty net in front of him.
A couple of changes from Wigan boss Steve Bruce upset Everton's rhythm and provided a few shooting opportunities as Moyes' side took their foot off the gas but efforts from Watson and Hugo Rodallega never troubled Howard in goal.
The win puts a ten-point gap between the two sides and places Everton within touching distance of Aston Villa in fifth.