The Edo State chapters of the People Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress are upbeat that the eventual Supreme Court judgment will favour them.

In the governorship poll, INEC declared that Governor Monday Okpebholo polled 291,667 to defeat Asue Ighodalo, who polled 247,655 votes.

The PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, after losing the September 21, 2024, governorship election, dragged the APC and its candidate, Okpebholo, to court.

The petitioners in a petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, alleged that Okpebholo did not score the highest number of votes in the election, adding that the election was marred with multiple irregularities and corrupt practices.

The petitioners alleged a high record of over-voting in the election and prayed the tribunal to nullify the election over non-serialization of ballots, incorrect collation of figures, and erroneous computation of scores in 765 polling units.

On April 2, 2025, a three-member panel of the Edo State governorship election petition tribunal chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, in a unanimous decision, dismissed the petition of the PDP and Ighodalo for their inability to prove the allegation of over-voting.

The PUNCH reported that the Appeal Court Abuja Division, on May 29, 2025, affirmed the decision of the Edo State governorship election petition tribunal that affirmed the election victory of Governor Okpebholo.

The three-member panel of the appellate court, in a unanimous decision, dismissed Ighodalo’s appeal, describing it as devoid of merit.

The PDP and its candidate, having lost the two trials, are currently at the Supreme Court hoping that the judgment will go their way.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court reserved judgment for delivery at a later date.

Speaking to The PUNCH, the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP in Edo State, Tony Aziegbemi, expressed hope that the eventual judgment would go their way.

He said, “The Supreme Court judges gave each lawyer 10 minutes to talk and they said we will hear from them concerning the judgment. So nothing much transpired at the court.

“What happened at the court is what we expected. They were supposed to adopt those written addresses. We didn’t expect anything else to happen.

“However, we expected that our candidate, Asue Ighodalo, will be declared winner by the Supreme Court.”

The Publicity Secretary of the Edo APC, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, said the consistent nature of the Supreme Court would give his party and its candidate victory.

He added, “We do not doubt the judiciary. The highest respect you should have for a constituted organ of government is what we have for the judiciary. We know they have been consistent in the review of evidence before them.

“The court does not manufacture evidence. The court is not a Father Christmas and no court can give judgment in favour of someone who has not proven its case before it.

“The Supreme Court is going to look at the evidence before the tribunal, reviewed by the Court of Appeal and consequently give their verdict. The verdict is going to be in consonant with the law.”

Speaking on the law, the party said “The law is that he who alleges must prove. In this case, the PDP and Ighodalo alleged issues that they could not buttress with any evidence. They said there was an infraction of the law which they were not able to prove.

“Even the little proofs they manage to present were expunged by the Court of Appeal. They have also disregarded our party and candidate by their inability to prove that we committed an infraction.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court reserved judgment after taking arguments for and against the appeal challenging the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which pronounced Okpebholo winner.

The appeal was heard by a five-member panel of justices of the apex court, presided over by Justice Garba Lawal.

Ighodalo’s appeal was argued by Ken Mozia (SAN).

He prayed the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment of the lower courts that upheld INEC’s declaration.

At the hearing of the appeal before the apex court, INEC was represented by Kanu Agabi (SAN).

In his arguments, he urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal in its entirety, stating that Ighodalo and the PDP had, in their petition, stigmatised the election as invalid and unlawful on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.

He added that having declared the election unlawful and illegal, Ighodalo and the PDP could not turn around and pray the court to declare them as winners of illegality.

INEC accused Ighodalo and the PDP of being inconsistent in their grievances against the election and pleaded that their case be dismissed for want of merit.

Okpebholo’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and APC’s counsel, Emmanuel Okala (SAN), similarly urged the apex court to dismiss Igodhalo’s appeal.

After taking arguments from the parties in the suit, Justice Lawal stated that the date for delivery of the judgment would be communicated to the parties.