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All Progressives Congress

Supreme Court Reserves Judgment on Edo Governorship Election Appeal

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment on an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr. Asuerinme Ighodalo, challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State won by Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The appellants are praying the court to set aside the May 29 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed their case and affirmed Governor Okpebholo as the valid winner of the gubernatorial contest. The case revolves around allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, which the appellants claim led to an invalid and unlawful election.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Supreme Court has reserved judgment on the appeal, with a five-member panel of justices led by Justice Garba Lawal adjourning to deliver judgment.
  • The appellants, PDP and its candidate Mr. Asuerinme Ighodalo, are praying the court to nullify the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo and declare Ighodalo as the winner of the polls.
  • The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by Kanu Agabi SAN, has urged the court to dismiss the appeal, arguing that the appellants had stigmatized the election as invalid and unlawful.
  • The INEC accused the appellants of being inconsistent in their grievances against the election and pleaded that their case be dismissed for want of merit.
  • The tribunal had dismissed the contention of the appellants that INEC failed to pre-record most of the materials that were deployed for the election.
  • The tribunal also held that the onus of proving that Governor Okpebholo was unduly returned by INEC rested squarely on the appellants, which they failed to do.
  • The INEC is represented by Kanu Agabi SAN, while Mr. Ighodalo is represented by Ken Mosia SAN.

Statistics:

  • Total votes cast in the election: 539,322
  • Okpebholo secured a total of 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo, who got a total of 247,655 votes.
  • Number of polling units in Edo State: 765
  • Number of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVA) machines tendered before the tribunal: 153
  • Exhibits tendered before the tribunal: 153 BVA machines, used in 133 polling units

Sources:

  • SC/CV/536/2025
  • Electoral Act 2022
  • EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024
  • News of the Supreme Court's decision

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