By Sebastine Ebhuomhan
The Supreme Court, Nigeria’s apex court of adjudication, is set to finally rest the dispute arising from the Edo State governorship election conducted on Saturday, 21st September, 2024.
In a landmark judgment that begins from 9.00am today, the five-member panel of judges led by the Honourable Justice Garba Lawal, JSC, would pronounce the winner of the appeal marked: SC/CV/536/2025, filed by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asuerinme Ighodalo, against the election of the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returned as duly elected.
Last week Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard for two hours arguments and counter-arguments presented by the appellant and the respondents to the petition. The court allocated 10 minutes each to both parties to adopt addresses and arguments.
Addressing the court, counsel to the petitioner, Ken Mozia, SAN, urged a review of the five issues that were raised from tribunal and appellate court judgments. They include substantial con-compliance, non-prior recording, oral evidence, and over-voting. He urged the court to set aside past judgments and accept the appeal.
In a counter-argument, counsel to the 1st respondent, INEC, Kanu Agabi, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the petition. He stated that the petitioner cannot be declared the winner of an election he claimed was invalid and in which he presented inconsistent, speculative arguments beside failing to demand any specific relief.
Following up, counsel to 2nd respondent, Governor Okpebholo, Dr. Oyinye Ikpeazu, SAN, knocked the petitioner for refusing to substantiate his allegations with BIVAS machines, voter’s register and result sheets before urging the court to dismiss the petition.
In his submission, counsel to the 3rd respondent, the APC, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, flayed the petitioner for presenting five polling witnesses to substantiate allegations in 765 polling units. He also urged the court to dismiss the petition.
Following the sudden announcement of the Judgment Day, Governor Okpebholo in respect to the judiciary cancelled his long-scheduled presence at the 9th Annual Convention of Esan World Congress (EWC) holding from tomorrow, 11th to 13th July, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. Themed: Made For This: Enhancing Healthcare in Esanland, Okpebholo is the event’s special guest of honour.
At the Supreme Court today, the judgment promises to be a continuation of the celebration of remarkable milestones in the governor’s household: following the call to bar this week of his daughter, Ms. Eghogho Favour Okpebholo, Esq; in the government: following the Chief of Staff’s wife, Mrs. Nana Gani Audu, Esq’s call to bar, also; and in the entire Edo State: following the heartwarming news from the Debt Management Office (DMO) announcing the reduction of Edo State domestic debts from N113 billion in Quarter 4 of 2024 to N82.4 billion in Quarter 1 of 2025, the most substantial debt reduction from a transparent economic management and sound fiscal policy by any state government in Nigeria during the same period.
Mr. Sebastine EBHUOMHAN is an award-winning journalist and a media consultant from Edo State. He can be reached on: usie007@yahoo.com and 08037204620.
