The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for Edo Monday reserved judgment in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Mr Asue Ighodalo.
In the petition, they are challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state.
But at the proceedings in Abuja, the Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led three-member tribunal reserved the judgment after counsel in the matter adopted their final written addresses.
The presiding judge also announced that the date for judgment will be communicated to parties by the secretary of the tribunal.
“The tribunal stands adjourned until then,” she said.
At the resumed hearing of the matter, counsel to the petitioners, Mr Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN told the tribunal that the business of the day was for the adoption of final written addresses.
Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Kanu Agabi, SAN, proceeded to adopt the final address of his client.
Agabi, by way of adumbration, prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit.
He said this was based on the grounds that the tribunal could not annul the Sept. 21, 2024 governorship election because it was not one of the reliefs sought by the petitioners.
The senior lawyer told the tribunal that it could not declare the petitioners as winners of that election in the light of their own assertion that the election was invalid.
Agabi also dismissed the claim of non-compliance pleaded by the petitioners, saying it was weak as it was not accompanied by the appropriate relief, which was nullification of election.