In what seems to be loss of hope to the Edo Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed the appeal filed by Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate for the September 21, 2024, Edo governorship election. The appellate court, led by Hon. Justice Tunji Oyebanji Awotoye, overturned the earlier decision of the Federal High Court, which had declined to address the merits of the case involving voter’s card forgery allegations against Ighodalo.
The Federal High Court had previously ruled on technical grounds, opting not to delve into the case’s substance. However, Ighodalo’s appeal challenged this decision, arguing that the lower court’s judgment was flawed. The Court of Appeal reviewed seven grounds of appeal presented by Ighodalo and found them, along with the three issues of determination, to be without merit. The lead judgment, delivered by Hon. Justice Patricia Ajuma Mahmoud, concluded that the appeal was unsubstantiated and thus dismissed.
Justice Mahmoud’s ruling confirms that the appeal fails, reinforcing the lower court’s initial stance and rejecting Ighodalo’s attempt to overturn the decision. This outcome marks a decisive moment in the legal battles surrounding the Edo governorship election
