By Abiola Olawale
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved its judgment on the legal battle over the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State.
This was announced during a court proceeding presided over by Justice Garba Lawal on Wednesday.
Lawa reserved the ruling after hearing arguments from all parties involved in the appeal challenging the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.
Lawal, leading a five-member panel, announced that the judgment would be delivered on a date to be communicated later, stating, “This matter is adjourned sine die.”
The appeal, filed by Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeks to overturn the Court of Appeal’s May 29, 2025, decision, which upheld Okpebholo’s victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
Ighodalo, represented by his lawyer, Ken Mozia (SAN), argued that the election was marred by irregularities, including non-serialization of ballot papers and errors in result collation across 765 polling units.
Mozia urged the court to nullify Okpebholo’s election and declare Ighodalo the rightful winner, asserting he secured the majority of lawful votes.
On the opposing side, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by Kanu Agabi (SAN), defended the election’s integrity, arguing that the PDP’s petition lacked merit and was riddled with contradictions.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Okpebholo, also respondents in the case, echoed INEC’s stance, urging the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the lower court’s ruling.
The New Diplomat reports that the Edo State governorship election has been a contentious issue since INEC declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes against Ighodalo’s 247,655.
The PDP’s allegations of electoral malpractice were dismissed by the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal on April 2, 2025, and later upheld by the Court of Appeal, prompting Ighodalo’s decision to approach the Supreme Court.
