The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, which produced Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate for the upcoming governorship election on September 21st.
The judgement, delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday, declared that the primary election held on February 22 failed to meet the requirements of the Electoral Act 2022, the guidelines for the conduct of the poll, and the PDP’s constitution.
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Justice Ekwo stated that the evidence presented before the court established that Ighodalo did not emerge through a valid process. He noted that the documents provided by the PDP revealed that the returning officers who prepared the result sheets “merely sat at a place to manufacture the outcome of the poll.” As a result, the court held that the outcome of the primary election was null and void.
The ruling followed a suit filed by three aggrieved plaintiffs on behalf of 378 ad-hoc delegates who should have participated in the primary election. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, listed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, its National Secretary, and the Vice Chairman, South South, as the first to fourth defendants.
Justice Ekwo found merit in the plaintiffs’ case and noted that INEC did not file any process in the matter, indicating it would abide by the court’s judgement.
This ruling presents a significant setback for the PDP’s plans in Edo State, as the party will need to address the court’s decision and determine a new path forward for selecting their governorship candidate.
I won’t betray your trust – Ighodalo promises groups
Recall that Daily News 24 reported how the PDP governorship candidate in Edo, Dr Asue Ighodalo, promised not to betray the trust of the people if voted as the governor in the forthcoming Sept. 21 election.
Ighodalo gave his word at his campaign office in Aguobasemwin, GRA, Benin, while receiving the different groups drumming support for his aspiration.
