By Erewunmi Peace

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in the legal dispute between Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, and Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, over the outcome of the Edo State governorship primary election held in 2024.

A five-member panel of justices, led by Justice Garba Lawal, listened to arguments from both parties at the apex court in Abuja on Wednesday. After a heated legal session, the panel announced that judgment has been reserved, with the final decision to be delivered at a later date.

Legal Battle Timeline

Ighodalo is seeking to overturn the earlier decisions of the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal, and the Election Petition Tribunal, which all upheld Okpebholo’s candidacy and primary election process. The PDP candidate claims irregularities marred the APC primary and that Okpebholo’s emergence violated the Electoral Act.

However, lawyers representing the APC, Okpebholo, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) argued that the primaries were validly conducted and urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal for lacking merit.

“The lower courts have spoken with clarity and consistency. We urge the Supreme Court to affirm the decisions and put this matter to rest,” Okpebholo’s lead counsel said in court.

What’s at Stake

The outcome of this case could influence the political landscape ahead of the September 2025 Edo State Governorship Election. With Okpebholo currently holding the APC ticket, any reversal could force the party into a last-minute candidate replacement.

Political analysts say the court’s ruling will not only shape party strategy but also signal how strictly courts will interpret intra-party democracy and pre-election disputes moving forward.