The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday adjourned indefinitely for judgement the appeal brought before it by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Asue Ighodalo challenging the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the disputed Edo State governorship election of September 21, 2024.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal and the Appeal Court had upheld Okpebholo’s victory but the PDP and its candidate, dissatisfied by the lower courts’ judgement approached the apex court seeking to upturn the verdicts.
Justice Garba Lawal, who presided over the hearing of the appeal, said that the date for delivery of the judgement would be communicated to all parties after taking arguments for and against the election.
Ighodalo, whose appeal was argued by Ken Mozia, senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN, prayed the Supreme Court to sack Okpebholo and declare him as the winner of the election.
Ighodalo argued that he scored the majority of lawful votes in the election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by Kanu Agabi, SAN, however asked the court to dismiss the appeal in its entirety.
Agabi argued that Ighodalo and the PDP had, in their petition, stigmatised the election as invalid and unlawful on the ground of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
The election umpire contended that having declared the election unlawful and illegal, Ighodalo and the PDP could not turn around and pray the court to declare them winners of an illegality.
INEC accused the duo of being inconsistent in their grievances against the election and pleaded that their case be dismissed for want of merit.