Court Voids PDP Governorship Primary Election that Produced Asue Ighodalo
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election held on Thursday, February 22, 2024, which produced former Chairman of Sterling Bank, Asue Ighodalo, as its candidate, has been declared void by a court ruling.
According to AIT News, the court decision came on Thursday, July 4, and was delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo. The judge ruled that the primary election did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Justice Ekwo stated that the PDP’s primary failed to provide adequate evidence as required by the law. He criticized the process, noting that the returning officers seemingly fabricated the poll results instead of conducting a legitimate election. The judge also highlighted that the exclusion of 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, violated legal provisions.
Three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates, representing 378 others, had filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, was dated February 7 and filed on February 8. The excluded delegates were from 12 local government areas and 127 wards, loyal to the impeached deputy governor, Philip Shaibu.
In related developments, Philip Shaibu had previously warned the PDP against undermining his candidacy, emphasizing that rejecting him could harm the party’s prospects in Edo state. Shaibu asserted that he is the authentic candidate for the September 21 election and that Edo people prefer a local candidate over Ighodalo.
