The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reserved judgment in a suit filed by Asue Ighodalo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 21, 2024, election in Edo State.
A three-member panel of the court, led by Justice Mohamed Danjuma, after listening to final arguments by parties, reserved judgment to a date that will be communicated later.
The panel also reserved judgment on two other appeals, filed by Action Alliance (AA) and its National Chairman, Rufai Omoaje, and another filed by one Bright Enabulele and Accord Party (AP), as well as a cross-appeal filed by Okpebholo.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election in the state.
Ighodalo and the PDP, in their joint appeal, prayed the court to reverse the judgments of the Election Petitions Tribunal delivered on April 2, 2025, which affirmed Okpebholo as governor.
Specifically, counsel for the appellants, Robert Emukpoeruo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, argued that the tribunal failed to clear the issue of non-compliance in their petition.
Emukpoeruo noted that there was no record of the serial number on Form EC25B as required by Section 73(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022.