Politics
Supreme Court Verdict, APC, PDP Express Optimism On Edo Guber
The Edo State chapters of the People Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are optimistic that the eventual Supreme Court judgment will favour them.
Recall that in the governorship poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared that Governor Monday Okpebholo polled 291,667 to defeat Asue Ighodalo, who polled 247,655 votes, the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
Consequently, the PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, approached the court in the bid to reclaim the mandate from the APC and its candidate, Okpebholo.
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The petitioners in a petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, alleged that Okpebholo did not score the highest number of votes in the election, adding that the election was marred with multiple irregularities and corrupt practices.
The petitioners alleged a high record of over-voting in the election and prayed the tribunal to nullify the election over non-serialization of ballots, incorrect collation of figures, and erroneous computation of scores in 765 polling units.
On April 2, 2025, a three-member panel of the Edo State governorship election petition tribunal chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, in a unanimous decision, dismissed the petition of the PDP and Ighodalo for their inability to prove the allegation of over-voting.
Similarly, the Appeal Court Abuja Division, on May 29, 2025, affirmed the decision of the Edo State governorship election petition tribunal on the election victory of Governor Okpebholo.
The three-member panel of the appellate court, in a unanimous decision, dismissed Ighodalo’s appeal, describing it as devoid of merit.
However, the PDP and its candidate, having lost the two trials, are currently at the Supreme Court hoping that the judgment will go their way.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court reserved judgment for delivery at a later date.
Despite that, the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP in Edo State, Tony Aziegbemi, has expressed optimism that the matter will go their way at the apex court.
He said, “The Supreme Court judges gave each lawyer 10 minutes to talk and they said we will hear from them concerning the judgment. So, nothing much transpired at the court.
“What happened at the court is what we expected. They were supposed to adopt those written addresses. We didn’t expect anything else to happen.
“However, we expected that our candidate, Asue Ighodalo, will be declared winner by the Supreme Court.”
On his part, the Publicity Secretary of the Edo APC, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, said the consistent nature of the Supreme Court would give his party and its candidate victory.
He added, “We do not doubt the judiciary. The highest respect you should have for a constituted organ of government is what we have for the judiciary. We know they have been consistent in the review of evidence before them.
“The court does not manufacture evidence. The court is not a Father Christmas and no court can give judgment in favour of someone who has not proven its case before it.
“The Supreme Court is going to look at the evidence before the tribunal, reviewed by the Court of Appeal and consequently give their verdict. The verdict is going to be in consonant with the law.”
On the law, the APC said “The law is that he who alleges must prove. In this case, the PDP and Ighodalo alleged issues that they could not buttress with any evidence. They said there was an infraction of the law which they were not able to prove.
“Even the little proofs they manage to present were expunged by the Court of Appeal. They have also disregarded our party and candidate by their inability to prove that we committed an infraction.”
Recall that the appeal was heard by a five-member panel of justices of the apex court, presided over by Justice Garba Lawal.
Ighodalo’s appeal was argued by Ken Mozia (SAN).
He prayed the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment of the lower courts that upheld INEC’s declaration.
At the hearing of the appeal before the apex court, INEC was represented by Kanu Agabi (SAN).
In his arguments, he urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal in its entirety, stating that Ighodalo and the PDP had, in their petition, stigmatised the election as invalid and unlawful on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
He added that having declared the election unlawful and illegal, Ighodalo and the PDP could not turn around and pray the court to declare them as winners of illegality.
The INEC accused Ighodalo and the PDP of being inconsistent in their grievances against the election and pleaded that their case be dismissed for want of merit.
Governor Okpebholo’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and APC’s counsel, Emmanuel Okala (SAN), similarly urged the apex court to dismiss Igodhalo’s appeal.
After taking arguments from the parties in the suit, Justice Lawal stated that the date for delivery of the judgment would be communicated to the parties.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in Plateau State was thrown into chaos on Saturday after suspected thugs disrupted the vote-counting process, forcing electoral officials and party members to flee for safety.
The incident occurred at the RCM Primary School in Zarmaganda, Jos South Local Government Area, during a direct primary election organised ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Trouble reportedly started after disagreements emerged between supporters of former House of Representatives member, Dachung Baggos, and another aspirant, Hon. Esther Dung, over the outcome of the exercise.
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Party sources disclosed that electoral officials had commenced a recount of votes following protests by supporters of Baggos, who rejected the earlier declaration of Esther Dung as the winner.
During the recount, Baggos was said to have polled 570 votes, while another aspirant, Arum, secured 66 votes before the process was interrupted.
Tension escalated when officials moved to count votes belonging to Esther Dung, as suspected hoodlums stormed the venue and disrupted the exercise.
An APC official, Nandom Paul, confirmed the incident, explaining that supporters of Dung opposed the recount on the grounds that many accredited voters had already cast their ballots and left the venue.
According to him, efforts by the electoral officer to calm both camps and assure them of transparency failed to resolve the disagreement.
The situation later turned violent, forcing party officials, electoral officers, and supporters to scamper for safety as security operatives intervened and evacuated officials from the scene.
Meanwhile, in a related primary election held at Zawan A Ward in Jos South LGA, Esther Bitrus emerged victorious after polling 316 votes to defeat Dachung Baggos, who secured 130 votes, while Ajiji received two votes.
A monitor of the exercise, Jude Dalyop, described the Zawan A Ward primary as peaceful and credible, noting that agents of all aspirants were present throughout the process.
The APC is expected to collate and officially announce the final results for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency after voting concludes across all wards.
The battle for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027 has officially gathered momentum as leading opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, and Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde intensified moves aimed at challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The opposition leaders made major political declarations on Thursday, unveiling plans, alliances, and presidential ambitions that could reshape the country’s political landscape ahead of the next general election.
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Atiku Abubakar, now contesting under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), submitted his presidential nomination form at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, describing his ambition as part of a broader mission to rescue Nigeria from hardship and despair.
According to the former vice president, Nigerians must unite beyond ethnic and religious divisions to restore prosperity and rebuild confidence in governance.
“This is more than a political journey; it is a national movement rooted in hope, renewal, and the collective resolve to save Nigeria from despair,” Atiku said.
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who also submitted his nomination form under the ADC, launched a scathing criticism of the APC-led administration, blaming the “Emilokan” ideology for the economic suffering currently facing Nigerians.
Amaechi argued that leadership should be based on competence and performance rather than tribal, regional, or religious sentiments.
“It is Emilokan that brought us here. Nigerians are suffering,” he declared while addressing supporters in Abuja.
The former Rivers governor further questioned the APC’s push for another term, insisting the current administration had failed to improve the welfare of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Peter Obi disclosed that he would spend only one term in office if elected president in 2027.
Speaking during an interview on News Central TV, the former Labour Party presidential candidate stated that he had no intention of remaining in power beyond four years.
“I want to be a one-term president because of stability. I will not stay a day longer than four years,” Obi stated.
He also criticised the country’s worsening economic conditions, rising debt profile, and increasing hardship under the current administration.
In Ibadan, Governor Seyi Makinde formally declared his presidential ambition under a new political alliance involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM).
Makinde announced the launch of the “Reset Nigeria Movement,” which he described as the beginning of a wider opposition coalition determined to offer Nigerians a credible alternative in 2027.
The Oyo governor accused the ruling party of weakening democracy and attempting to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
“The economic and security situations continue to worsen, forcing Nigerians into survival mode,” Makinde said during a mega rally at Mapo Hall.
He urged opposition parties and ordinary citizens to unite in order to rescue the country from worsening insecurity, poverty, and economic hardship.
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Bauchi State, Alhaji Usman Adamu, has come to the defence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, saying most of those accusing him of working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) have now joined the ruling party themselves.
Adamu made the remarks in Abuja while submitting his nomination forms for the Bauchi governorship race ahead of the 2027 elections.
The PDP aspirant dismissed claims that Wike was secretly backing the APC, arguing that many of the minister’s critics had already defected to the ruling party.
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“About 85 per cent of those accusing him have already officially decamped to the APC. Who is working for APC?” he asked.
Praising Wike’s political strength and influence within the PDP, Adamu compared the minister’s political survival to a football match where one player defeated several opponents.
“Before, about 14 governors ganged up against one person. Gradually, one after the other, you were scoring one, two. I have never seen such a scorer. In the end, the match ended 14-0. I am thanking Wike,” he said.
According to him, politics is like a battlefield that requires strategy, leadership and strong fighters to secure victory.
Turning to his governorship ambition, Adamu described himself as a unifying figure capable of bridging the gap between youths, women and elders in Bauchi State.
“I am not too old and neither too young to be a leader in this country. I will be the bridge between the women, youths and elders,” he stated.
On regional politics in the state, Adamu said he does not belong to either of the dominant blocs, stressing that he would stand as a neutral force for unity.
“We have a dichotomy in the state that is called Bauchi-Kataokum. I don’t belong to Bauchi, I don’t belong to Kataokum. I will be in the middle of this place,” he added.
The PDP governorship hopeful also expressed confidence in his chances of winning the election, even if the incumbent governor supports another candidate.
“Power and authority belongs to God and only Him can decide the future with certainty. Bauchi people are very wise and they can choose what they want for themselves,” he said.
Adamu further dismissed reports suggesting the PDP was losing relevance in Bauchi State due to internal crises and defections.
“As far as I am concerned, there is one party here, which is PDP. PDP has its stronghold in Bauchi. Most of the people of Bauchi are PDP and you cannot change them from that position,” he declared.
He also questioned the legitimacy of rival factions within the party, insisting that only leaders recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be taken seriously.
Despite ongoing tensions within the opposition party, Adamu maintained that the PDP would emerge stronger after its primaries and remain a major political force in Bauchi State.
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