The Supreme Court will on Thursday, July 10, deliver its final judgment in the legal battle between Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State.
Sources at the apex court confirmed the judgment date on Wednesday, a week after a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba reserved judgment following final arguments from both parties.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okpebholo winner of the election with 291,667 votes, ahead of Ighodalo who polled 247,274 votes. Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata came third with 22,763 votes.
However, Ighodalo rejected the outcome, alleging over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act in several polling units. He argued that the irregularities, if properly reviewed, would show that he was the actual winner.
His case was dismissed by both the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, both of which upheld Okpebholo’s victory.
Unwilling to accept the verdict, Ighodalo approached the Supreme Court last month, asking it to overturn the judgments and declare him the rightful winner or order a fresh election.
With all legal arguments now concluded, the Supreme Court is expected to give its final decision tomorrow, bringing to an end months of post-election legal battles in Edo State.