The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary poll that resulted in Asue Ighodalo being the party’s nominee for the upcoming Edo governorship race was declared unlawful on Thursday by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to a ruling by Justice Inyang Ekwo, the PDP’s primary on February 22 did not adhere to the party’s constitution, the rules governing the conduct of the election, or the terms of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Judge Ekwo held that the plaintiffs were able to prove their case against the defendants by using the exhibits that were tendered, stating that Exhibit PDP 1 was devoid of proof.
He declared that it was illegal to exclude the 381 delegates, which included the plaintiffs. Despite the fact that INEC, the first defendant in the lawsuit, submitted a memorandum of appearance, Justice Ekwo stated that it was regrettable that the commission had not submitted any paperwork in the matter.
According to the judge, the 1st defendant’s counsel only said it would be bound by the court’s decision.
“I found that the case of the plaintiffs succeeds on merit,” he said.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, three irate ad hoc delegates filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, its national secretary, and the vice chairman of South South as the first through fourth defendants, respectively, on behalf of the 378 other parties.
In the litigation filed on February 8 but dated February 7, the plaintiffs requested two orders under the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024.
These include an order for the defendants or their agents not to act but to show cause why the reliefs of the plaintiffs in their originating summons should not be granted about the plan of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants to exclude them and 378 other delegates, whose names and election results are contained in “Exhibits BID 8A to 8L,” from participating in the primaries.of Feb. 22 in Edo.
The plaintiffs, who are Mr. Ederaho Osagie, Mr. Gabriel Okoduwa, and Hon. Kelvin Mohammed, claimed that granting their reliefs would be in the best interests of justice on behalf of others in 127 wards and 12 local government regions.
The 381 delegates, according to NAN, are supporters of deputy governor Philip Shaibu, who is under investigation.
