By John Paul
The Supreme Court has fixed Thursday, July 10, 2025, for its judgment in the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Governor of Edo State.
The date was confirmed on Wednesday by sources at the apex court in Abuja.
The appeal stems from the September 21, 2024, governorship election, in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes. Ighodalo of the PDP came second with 247,274 votes, while Labour Party candidate Olumide Akpata trailed with 22,763 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Ighodalo and the PDP approached the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, alleging widespread irregularities, including over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022. They sought to have the election nullified and a fresh one ordered.
The tribunal dismissed the petition for lack of merit, a decision that was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal. The appellate court ruled unanimously that Ighodalo and the PDP failed to prove their allegations.
Still unsatisfied, the PDP candidate approached the Supreme Court last month, asking it to overturn the lower court’s judgment. In his submission, Ighodalo argued that the Court of Appeal erred in law by affirming what he described as a flawed electoral process and a miscarriage of justice.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, heard final arguments from all parties last week. At the conclusion of submissions, Justice Garba announced that the court would reserve judgment and communicate the date to all counsel involved.
That judgment is expected to be be delivered today, bringing an end to months of legal contest over the 2024 Edo governorship election.
Observers say the ruling will have major implications for future electoral jurisprudence, particularly regarding the burden of proof in cases of alleged non-compliance with electoral laws.