Supreme Court Reserves Judgement In Edo Governorship Election Appeal

The Supreme Court has reserved its final judgement in the legal dispute surrounding the Edo State governorship election.

After hearing arguments from both sides regarding the election that declared Senator Monday Okpebholo as the winner, the court reserve its final decision without setting a specific date.

Justice Garba Lawal, who led the panel, stated that all parties would be informed once a judgment date is fixed.

The appeal was filed by Asue Ighodalo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Represented by Senior Advocate Ken Mosia, Ighodalo asked the court to nullify Okpebholo’s victory and declare him the rightful winner, claiming he received the majority of lawful votes.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through its counsel Kanu Agabi (SAN), urged the court to reject the appeal completely.

INEC argued that Ighodalo and the PDP had initially labeled the entire election process as illegal and flawed under the Electoral Act of 2022.

Therefore, they could not now turn around and ask to be declared winners of an election they themselves condemned.

INEC described the PDP’s arguments as contradictory and lacking merit, and asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the case.

KanyiDaily recalls that Governor Monday Okpebholo recently extended an open invitation to Asue Ighodalo, offering him what he called “political amnesty.”