A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary that produced Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.
The judge, Inyang Ekwo, in his ruling on Thursday, July 4, said the PDP’s primary held on February 22 failed to comply with the Electoral Act 2022.
He added that the party did not also adhere to the guidelines for the conduct of the poll and the party’s constitution.
Ekwo held that the plaintiffs were able to prove their case against the defendants by using the exhibits that were tendered.
According to the judge, he discovered from the PDP’s submission that the returning officials who filled the result sheets merely sat down in a location to fabricate the poll’s results.
He declared that it was illegal to exclude the 381 delegates, which included the plaintiffs.
Even though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the initial defendant in the lawsuit, submitted a memorandum of appearance, the judge held that it was regrettable that the commission failed to submit any paperwork in the matter.
Three delegates filed a lawsuit against the INEC, PDP, the party’s national secretary, and its vice chairman in the South-South as the first through fourth defendants, respectively, on behalf of the 378 other party members.
The plaintiffs requested two orders in the complaint filed on February 8 but dated February 7 under the file number FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024.
One of these orders sought the defendants or their representatives to explain why the plaintiffs’ reliefs in their original summons should not be granted regarding the plan of the second, third, and fourth defendants to bar them and 378 other delegates from taking part in the primaries.
The plaintiffs, Kelvin Mohammed, Gabriel Okoduwa, and Ederaho Osagien on behalf of others in 12 Local Government Areas and 127 wards submitted that granting their reliefs would be in the best interests of justice.
According to NAN, the 381 delegates are supporters of the former deputy governor Philip Shaibu.
Asue Ighodalo, a former Chairman of Sterling Bank, who is backed by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, emerged as the winner of the Edo PDP primary election in February 2024.
Ighodalo was reportedly elected at the primary election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, the state capital.
The election became controversial when Shaibu (the former deputy governor) also emerged winner at a parallel primary elsewhere.
Ighodalo scored 577 votes in the primary that produced him as the winner to beat his closest rival, Shaibu, who scored one vote while other candidates scored zero votes.
Other aspirants include Anselm Ojezua, Arthur Esele, Omosede Igbinedion, Osaro Onaiwu, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Martins Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru, and Felix Akhabue.
The INEC scheduled the state governorship election for Saturday, September 21, 2024.
A reporter with the ICIR
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