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Court nullifies Edo PDP primary for governor
Judge Ekwo held that the plaintiffs were able to prove their case against the defendants by using the exhibits that were tendered, stating that Exhibit PDP 1 was devoid of proof.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary poll that resulted in Asue Ighodalo being the party’s nominee for the upcoming Edo governorship race was declared unlawful on Thursday by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo determined that the PDP’s primary on February 22 did not adhere to the party’s constitution, the rules governing the conduct of the election, or the terms of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Judge Ekwo held that the plaintiffs were able to prove their case against the defendants by using the exhibits that were tendered, stating that Exhibit PDP 1 was devoid of proof.
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 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 court’s decision.
“I found that the case of the plaintiffs succeeds on merit,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 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 chairman, south south as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 dated Feb. 7 but filed Feb 8, the plaintiffs sought for two orders.
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.
