Supreme Court has adjourned judgment indefinitely in the legal battle over the Edo Governorship Election Petition.
The appeal was filed by Asue Ighodalo and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the election of Sen. Monday Okpebholo as the governor of Edo State.
Justice Garba Lawal, who presided over the hearing, announced that the date for delivery of the judgment would be communicated to parties involved.
The apex court adjourned the judgment sine die after taking arguments for and against the election.
Ighodalo’s counsel, Ken Mosia SAN, prayed the court to remove Okpebholo and pronounce Ighodalo as the winner of the election, arguing that he scored the majority of lawful votes.
“We urge the court to declare our client as the winner of the election, having scored the majority of lawful votes,” Mosia said.
However, INEC’s counsel, Kanu Agabi SAN, asked the court to dismiss the appeal in its entirety, arguing that Ighodalo and PDP had been inconsistent in their grievances against the election. “The appellants have stigmatized the election as invalid and unlawful, yet they pray the court to declare them as winners.
This is inconsistent and their case should be dismissed for want of merit,” Agabi argued.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had earlier upheld Okpebholo’s election, dismissing Ighodalo’s appeal. Ighodalo rejected the judgment and vowed to contest it at the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court’s judgment is now eagerly awaited, with the fate of the Edo State governorship hanging in the balance.
