Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the Governorship Primaries of the People Democracy Party (PDP) election in Edo state that brought Asue Ighodalo as the Party's candidate for the state election.
The election conducted on February 22, 2024, was voided because 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded by PDP. Justice Ekwo nullified the primary election while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by the aggrieved delegates. One Kelvin Mohammed instituted the suit in a representative capacity.
Justice Ekwo held that both the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP Guidelines were violated in the primary election at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin. Ekwo added that the plaintiffs, through the exhibits tendered, were able to establish their case against the defendants.
According to the judge, he found the exhibit presented by the PDP that the returning officers who prepared the result sheets only sat down in a place to manufacture the outcome of the poll.
Justice Ekwo held that the exclusion of the 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, was against the provisions of the law.
Three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates, on behalf of the 378 others, had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 dated February 7 but filed February 8.
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, which include Hon Kelvin Mohammed, Mr. Gabriel Okoduwa, and Mr Ederaho Osagie, on behalf of others in 12 local government areas and 127 wards, averred that it would be in the interest of justice for their reliefs to be granted.
NAN reports that the 381 delegates are those loyal to Philip Shaibu, the impeached deputy governor.
