Supreme Court to Deliver Verdict Thursday in Edo Governorship Appeal
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has scheduled Thursday, July 10, 2025, to deliver its ruling on the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election.
According to a report by THISDAY, sources within the apex court confirmed the date on Wednesday. A five-member panel, led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, had last week reserved judgment after hearing final arguments from legal representatives of all parties involved in the case.
Ighodalo and the PDP are contesting the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election. INEC had announced that Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who secured 247,274 votes. Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata trailed with 22,763 votes.
Disputing the result, Ighodalo accused INEC of failing to comply with electoral guidelines, alleging widespread over-voting and irregularities in several polling units. He contended that if the allegedly invalid votes were discounted, he would have emerged as the rightful winner.
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal both dismissed Ighodalo’s claims and upheld Okpebholo’s victory. Dissatisfied with the rulings, Ighodalo escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, insisting that the appellate court erred in its judgment and failed to properly assess evidence of electoral malpractices.
The Supreme Court will now decide whether to uphold the lower court decisions affirming Okpebholo’s election or overturn them in favour of Ighodalo and the PDP.
