Court Invalidates PDP Primary Election Result for Edo Governorship Candidate

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In a significant legal development, the Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election that selected Asue Ighodalo as the party’s governorship candidate for the upcoming election in Edo State. The ruling was delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday, citing non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, party guidelines, and the PDP constitution.


The lawsuit was initiated by three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates, representing 378 other delegates, who challenged their exclusion from participating in the primaries held on February 22. The plaintiffs, Kelvin Mohammed, Gabriel Okoduwa, and Ederaho Osagie, argued that their exclusion violated legal provisions and party regulations. Their suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, sought to compel the PDP to include the delegates, whose names were listed in “Exhibits BID 8A to 8L,” in the primary election process.


Justice Ekwo's judgment underscored that the evidence presented by the plaintiffs successfully demonstrated the irregularities in the primary election. He highlighted that the Exhibit PDP 1, provided by the PDP, lacked substantial evidence and revealed that the results were manufactured by the returning officers who did not conduct a legitimate poll.

Key points of the judgement 

1. Non-Compliance with Electoral Laws: The primary election did not adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the PDP's internal guidelines.

   

2. Manufactured Results: The court found that the returning officers responsible for the primary election results did not follow due process, instead producing results in a non-transparent manner.


3. Exclusion of Delegates: The exclusion of 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, from the primary election process was deemed unlawful and contrary to established legal and party protocols.


4. INEC's Position: Despite being the first defendant, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not actively participate in the legal proceedings. The commission merely stated it would abide by the court's decision without filing any substantive response to the claims.


5. Plaintiffs' Reliefs: The plaintiffs sought court orders to prevent the defendants from acting against their interests and to justify their exclusion from the primary election. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, emphasizing the need for justice and proper electoral conduct.

This ruling has significant implications for the PDP in Edo State, necessitating a reassessment of their candidate selection process for the governorship election. The court's decision not only invalidates Asue Ighodalo's candidacy but also calls for a more transparent and inclusive primary election in line with legal and party standards.


As the PDP navigates this legal setback, it remains crucial for the party to address the issues highlighted by the court to ensure a fair and credible candidate selection process moving forward.

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