The Supreme Court has reserved judgment indefinitely in the case challenging the outcome of the Edo State governorship election that saw Senator Monday Okpebholo declared winner.
Presiding over the hearing on the appeal filed by Asue Ighodalo and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Justice Garba Lawal announced that the date for judgment would be communicated to all involved parties at a later time.
Represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ken Mosia, Ighodalo urged the court to nullify Okpebholo’s victory and declare him the rightful winner, claiming he secured the majority of lawful votes in the election.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through its counsel Kanu Agabi, SAN, countered the appeal, requesting the Supreme Court to dismiss it in its entirety. Agabi argued that the petitioners had earlier labelled the election invalid and unlawful due to alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
INEC contended that, having dismissed the election as illegal, Ighodalo and the PDP could not logically demand to be declared winners of what they themselves deemed an illegality. The commission described their argument as inconsistent and lacking in merit, urging the court to uphold the election result.
What you should know
The Supreme Court has put on hold its judgment on the Edo governorship election dispute. Asue Ighodalo and the PDP seek to overturn Monday Okpebholo’s victory, but INEC insists their case is contradictory and unfounded. The court will announce a decision date later.
