The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election that declared Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate for the upcoming governorship election in Edo State.
This decisive ruling, delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of the state and the PDP.
Justice Ekwo’s judgment centered on the non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022, the PDP’s own guidelines for primary elections, and the party’s constitution. The court found that the primary election, held on February 22, was marred by irregularities and failed to adhere to legal and procedural standards. The judge highlighted that the PDP’s evidence, presented as Exhibit PDP 1, lacked substantial proof to support the legitimacy of the primary results.
Instead, the plaintiffs, through their presented exhibits, convincingly demonstrated that the results were fabricated by the returning officers. Justice Ekwo pointed out that these officers had merely convened to concoct the outcome without actual voting taking place.
A significant aspect of the court’s ruling was the unlawful exclusion of 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, from the primary election process. According to Justice Ekwo, this exclusion was a clear violation of the law. The judgment underscored the negligence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which, despite being the first defendant, failed to file any substantial process in the case. INEC’s counsel had merely stated that the commission would abide by the court’s decision. “I found that the case of the plaintiffs succeeded on merit,” Justice Ekwo concluded.
The legal proceedings were initiated by three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates—Kelvin Mohammed, Gabriel Okoduwa, and Ederaho Osagie—representing 378 other delegates. They sued INEC, the PDP, its national secretary, and the vice-chairman south-south, challenging their exclusion from the primaries. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, was filed on February 8. The plaintiffs sought court orders preventing the defendants or their agents from excluding them and the other delegates from participating in the primaries. They argued that their exclusion was unjust and contrary to the interest of justice.
This ruling has significant political implications, particularly for the faction loyal to Philip Shaibu, the impeached deputy governor, whose supporters were among the excluded delegates. The verdict calls into question the legitimacy of Ighodalo’s candidacy and sets a precedent for electoral integrity within the PDP and other political parties. As the political scene in Edo State adjusts to this development, the PDP will need to re-evaluate its primary election process and candidate selection to comply with legal standards and restore confidence among its members and the electorate.
