Edo Election: Court of Appeal to deliver judgment in PDP, APC appeals

 A three-man panel of the court, presided over by Justice Mohamed Danjuma, reserved the date to be communicated to the parties after their final arguments.

The appeals heard include the one filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election, Asue Ighodalo, and a cross appeal by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

The lawyers for the appellants prayed the court to allow their appeals and reverse the judgments of the election tribunal delivered on April 2.

Counsel for Ighodalo and the PDP, Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, urged the court to allow the appeal and set aside the judgment of the tribunal.

He argued that the tribunal failed to appreciate the nature of the non-compliance complained of, specifically the lack of serial numbers on Form EC25B as required by Section 73(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

“The tribunal said we required evidence of polling agents or witnesses to prove how the forms were filled or not filled,” Emukpoeruo said. “That was not our case. Our case was that the Form EC 25B did not contain the serial number.”

The lawyers for the respondents, however, urged the court to affirm the judgments by the tribunal and dismiss the appeals.

Onyechi Ikpeazu argued that the petition and the appeal were an academic exercise.

 Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, for the APC, and Kanu Agabi, SAN, for the INEC, also argued in a similar manner, praying the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgment of the election tribunal.

Two other appeals were also heard, one filed by Action Alliance (AA) and its National Chairman, Rufai Omoaje, and another filed by Bright Enabulele and Accord Party (AP).

The Court of Appeal will communicate the date for the judgment to the parties involved.

 The appeals challenge the outcome of the Edo State governorship election, which declared Monday Okpebholo of the APC as the winner.