The Supreme Court has adjourned indefinitely the delivery of judgment in the legal tussle surrounding the Edo State governorship election, which produced Senator Monday Obekpolo as governor.

The apex court, after hearing arguments from all parties on Thursday, reserved its ruling sine die (without a fixed date), stating that a new judgment date would be communicated in due course.

Naijaonpoint reports that the appeal was filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Asue Ighodalo, who is asking the court to nullify Obekpolo’s victory and declare him the rightful winner of the election.

Represented by Ken Mozia (SAN), Ighodalo argued that he scored the majority of lawful votes and should have been returned elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“We urge the court to invalidate Obekpolo’s return and declare our client as the duly elected governor, based on the actual lawful votes cast,” Mozia told the court.

However, INEC, through its counsel Kanu Agabi (SAN), opposed the appeal and urged the apex court to dismiss it outright for lacking merit.

Agabi argued that Ighodalo and the PDP had initially rejected the entire election in their petition, branding it “unlawful and invalid” due to alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.

“You cannot discredit an election and at the same time seek to benefit from it,” Agabi told the court.

“They are being inconsistent. If the election is unlawful as claimed, then no one can be declared winner from it.”

INEC maintained that the PDP’s petition was riddled with contradictions and urged the Supreme Court to uphold Obekpolo’s election.

Naijaonpoint reports that the five-member panel was presided over by Justice Garba Lawal, who, after hearing the parties, announced that judgment had been reserved.

“This matter is adjourned sine die. A date for the judgment will be communicated to all the parties,” Justice Lawal stated.