Breaking: Court Nullifies Edo PDP Primary Election

JUSTICE Inyang Ekwo of a  Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary conducted on 22 February 2024 which produced Asue Ighodalo as the party candidate for the 21 September 2024 governorship election.

Justice IEkwo, in a judgment on Thursday, held that the PDP’s primary election failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022; the guidelines for the conduct of the poll, and the PDP constitution.

Kelvin Mohammed, Gabriel Okoduwa, and Ederaho Osagie, members of the PDP sued on their behalf and behalf of others in 12 local government areas and 127 wards,

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 dated 7 February, but filed on 8 February, the plaintiffs sought two orders, which 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 with regard to 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 22 February in Edo.

Justice Ekwo, who said that Exhibit PDP 1 tendered by the party was bereft of evidence, held that the plaintiffs, through the exhibits tendered, were able to establish their case.

The judge said that from the exhibit presented by the PDP, he found that the returning officers who prepared the result sheets only sat down in a place to manufacture the outcome. of the poll.

He said the exclusion of the 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, was against the provisions of the law.

Justice Ekwo held that, though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the 1st defendant, filed a memorandum of appearance in the suit, it was unfortunate that the Commission did not file any process in the case.

According to the judge, the 1st defendant’s counsel only said it would be bound by the decision of the court.

“I found that the case of the plaintiffs succeeded on merit,” the court held. 

Three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates, on behalf of the 378 others, had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, its national secretary, and the vice chairperson, south-south as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

Eighteen-Eleven Media