Supreme Court Reserves Judgement In Edo Gov’ship Election Appeal

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the Edo State Governorship Election appeal.

The apex court reserved ruling after taking arguments for and against the election that produced Senator Monday Obekpolo as the duly elected governor of the state.

Justice Garba Lawal, who presided over the hearing of the appeal filed by  the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024 election, Mr Asue Ighodalo and his party, said the date for delivery of the judgment would be communicated to the parties involved.

Ighodalo whose appeal was argued by Ken Mosia SAN, prayed the Supreme Court to remove Obekpolo and pronounced him as winner of the election.

His ground was that he scored majority of lawful votes in the election.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, asked the apex Court to dismiss the appeal in its entirety.

Agabi argued that Ighodalo and PDP had in their petition stigmatised the election as invalid and unlawful on ground of noncompliance with the Electoral Act 2022.

The electoral body said having declared the election as unlawful and illegal, Ighodalo and PDP cannot turn around and pray the court to declare them as winners of illegality.

INEC accused Ighodalo and PDP of being inconsistent in their grievances against the election and pleaded that their case be dismissed for want of merit.