THE Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved its judgment in three appeals and a cross-appeal challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.
The three-member panel, led by Justice Mohamed Danjuma, stated that the judgment date would be communicated to all parties after the conclusion of their final arguments.
Among the appeals heard was the one filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, as well as a cross-appeal by the APC and Okpebholo.
During the proceedings, Robert Emukpoeruo (SAN), counsel to Ighodalo and the PDP, urged the appellate court to overturn the April 2 decision of the election tribunal. He stated that the tribunal failed to fully understand the nature of the non-compliance allegations made by the petitioners.
He specifically pointed to the absence of serial numbers on Form EC25B, which he said violates Section 73(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022. “Our claim wasn’t about how the forms were filled—it was that the forms lacked the required serial numbers,” Emukpoeruo argued.
He also disputed the tribunal’s assertion that the petitioners dumped documents without proper explanation, arguing that oral evidence was not necessary in this case.
He further maintained that the challenge was not on the conduct of the election itself, but on discrepancies between polling unit results and those collated at ward level.
In contrast, counsel for the respondents—including Onyechi Ikpeazu for Okpebholo, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) for the APC, and Kanu Agabi (SAN) for INEC—asked the court to uphold the tribunal’s decision and dismiss the appeals. They argued that the case lacked substance and was essentially academic.
Two additional appeals were also heard—one from the Action Alliance (AA) and its National Chairman, Rufai Omoaje, and another from Bright Enabulele and the Accord Party (AP).
The court is expected to announce its rulings in due course.
