Edo guber tribunal: APC Supreme Court case delays hearing of Ighodalo’s petition
On Monday, January 13, 2025, the hearing of the petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the Edo State governorship election was delayed. The delay happened because of a case involving the All Progressives Congress (APC) that was scheduled to be heard at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
The three-person tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had initially adjourned the case to Monday, January 13, 2025, after a pre-hearing session in Benin City on December 21, 2024. However, when the petition was called for hearing, the tribunal was informed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC had filed a motion requesting an adjournment to attend to their Supreme Court case.
The Assistant Secretary to the Tribunal, Dayo Dahunsi, informed the court that the request was made by INEC and APC because their lead counsel was scheduled to appear before the Supreme Court on Tuesday for another case. Dahunsi also explained that the request for adjournment applied to other petitions before the tribunal involving the respondents.
Ken Mozia, SAN, counsel to the petitioners, stated that he did not oppose the adjournment, showing cooperation with the process. Mozia, represented by Oladipo Oshinowo, mentioned that the petitioners’ lead counsel had received a late copy of the motion for adjournment from the court’s registry. Despite being ready to proceed with the trial, Mozia agreed to the adjournment, with the understanding that such requests would not be made again in the future.
Justice Wilfred Kpochi granted the adjournment and rescheduled the hearings for Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
The petitions are part of a challenge to the outcome of the September 22, 2024, governorship election, where INEC declared APC’s Senator Monday Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes. He defeated his main rival, Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who received 247,274 votes.
