The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its judgment in the contentious appeal challenging the outcome of the 2024 Edo State governorship election, after hearing final arguments from all parties involved.
The appeal was filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, contesting the declaration of Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected governor by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A seven-member panel of justices, presided over by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, announced that judgment had been reserved until a date to be communicated to the parties.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel for the APC, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), urged the apex court to overturn the decisions of the tribunal and the Court of Appeal, both of which had upheld Ighodalo’s victory. He argued that there were substantial irregularities in the conduct of the election, including alleged overvoting and non-compliance with electoral guidelines.
However, PDP’s lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), described the appeal as “frivolous and lacking in merit,” insisting that the election was free, fair, and conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.
INEC’s legal team also supported the lower courts’ decisions, maintaining that the election result reflected the will of the Edo electorate.
Tight security was observed within the Supreme Court premises, with supporters of both parties present in large numbers, awaiting the outcome with heightened anticipation.
Political analysts note that the Supreme Court’s ruling will be final and binding, with the potential to either reaffirm the PDP’s hold on Edo State or swing control back to the APC.
The judgment, once delivered, is expected to bring clarity to months of post-election tension in the South-South state.
