The judgment on the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the election victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo is still ongoing.
During the hearing, the court addressed eight applications attached to the petition, reviewing them in no particular order. Some of the motions were declared vague, inconsistent, and frivolous, while others were considered gross violations of the Electoral Act.
While certain motions were upheld, others were dismissed. The court also invalidated some applications due to non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Ruling on the election results, the court held that the figures released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remain valid on the surface, and it is the responsibility of the petitioners to prove otherwise. The court further emphasized that PDP must demonstrate that the alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act was significant enough to have affected the election outcome.
Reacting to some motions, the court remarked that the arguments presented were akin to “old wine in a new bottle.” Additionally, it struck out paragraphs containing new facts introduced by the petitioner, stressing that no fresh claims should be included in the petitioner’s reply.
Having addressed the various applications, the court is now evaluating the numerous objections raised by legal counsels, which reportedly run into hundreds.
Further updates on the proceedings are expected as the court continues its deliberations.
