
On Thursday, July 4,Federal High Court of Abuja, with sitting Justice Inyang Ekwo, Announced the primary election of the People Democratic Party, PDP of Edo State is Void.
The election was held on the 22nd of February,2024, and it produced Asue Ighodalo, the former Chairman of Sterling Bank as the Party Governorship Candidate.
Justice Inyang Ekwo said that the PDP’s primary election had failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and also the party’s constitution. Violations of the Party’s guidelines were also found in the way the election was conducted, which was held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.
The Judge said that the evidence presented by the PDP Exhibit 1, was inadequate and lacks validation, showing that the returning officers altered the result sheets.
Justice Ekwo said that the omission of the 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, was against the provisions of the law.
He further stressed that the Petitioners had successfully created their case against the Respondents through the exhibits handed over.
On behalf of the other 378 Delegates, Three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates; Kelvin Mohammed, Mr Gabriel Okoduwa, and Mr Ederaho Osagie, had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in a suit marked; FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 which was dated February 7, but was filed on the 8th of February.
It was gathered that the 381 delegates from 12 local government areas and 127 wards are unwavering loyalists of the impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu.