The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that, in contrast to inaccurately interpreted media reports of the Federal High Court of Abuja’s decision, its candidate for the Edo State governorship election on September 21, 2024, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, is still legitimately running.
The PDP added that there is absolutely no basis for the court to have issued an order invalidating Ighodalo’s primary election as the party’s nominee for governor of Edo State.
In a statement signed on Thursday by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, confirming that the congresses and subsequent governorship primary, which produced Ighodalo as the winner and flagbearer of the party, were legally and duly conducted in strict accordance with the provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, and the PDP’s Constitution.
The PDP insisted that no eligible delegate was prevented from taking part in the primary election, which was duly broadcast live on national TV stations and various social media platforms.
The accreditation, polling, ballot counting, collation, and announcement of results were all publicly carried out at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, under the watchful eyes of officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and pertinent security agencies.
Furthermore, the party stated that it maintains that the issue is moot under Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2022 since the plaintiffs, not being candidates in the exercise, have no right to contest the results of the primary election.
It said, “Additionally, it must be noted that the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs do not include the disqualification and/or nullification of the Primary election of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the winner of the Edo State Governorship Primary election of the PDP. The Court is not a Father Christmas.”
The party called on the public to ignore the report and continue to show their support and solidarity with the PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, especially for the people of Edo State.
