Supreme Court Reserves Ruling On Edo Governorship Dispute Indefinitely

The Supreme Court has adjourned indefinitely judgement in the legal battle on the Edo State Governorship Election Petition. The apex court adjourned the judgement sine die after taking arguments for and against the election that produced Senator Monday Obekpholo as the duly elected governor. Justice Garba Lawal, who presided over the hearing of the appeal filed by Mr Asue Ighodalo and the People’s Democratic Party PDP said that the date for delivery of the judgement would be communicated to the parties involved. Ighodalo, whose appeal was argued by Ken Mosia SAN, prayed the Supreme Court to remove Obekpholo and pronounce him the winner of the election. His ground was that he scored a majority of lawful votes in the election. However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by Kanu Agabi SAN, asked the court to dismiss the appeal in its entirety. Agabi argued that Ighodalo and PDP had in their petition stigmatised as invalid and unlawful on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022. The electoral body stated that, having declared the election unlawful and illegal, Ighodalo and PDP cannot now turn around and ask the court to declare them the winners of an 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.