PDP hails judgement affirming Ighodalo’s candidature.
The Peoples Democratic Party has praised the Federal High Court’s judgment, which confirmed the nomination of its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, for the governorship election in Edo State on September 21, 2024. On July 4, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated the PDP primary election.
Disgruntled delegates, represented by Kelvin Mohammed, filed a lawsuit (FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024) that led to this decision.
Due to the unlawful exclusion of 378 delegates, who had the right to vote, and in violation of legal requirements, the judge nullified the primaries.
During the primary at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, the court found significant violations of the Electoral Act 2022, PDP guidelines, and the party’s constitution.
The PDP appealed this ruling last Wednesday.
However, the Federal High Court in Abuja confirmed Ighodalo as the legitimately nominated governorship candidate of the PDP in Edo State.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday by Justice James Omotosho in the case marked CS/469/24, the court ruled that Ighodalo was properly nominated at the PDP primaries held on February 22 in Benin City.
As a result, the court dismissed the lawsuit challenging his nomination.
Reacting to the judgement, the PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated that it was clear that Ighodalo was the choice of the majority of the people of Edo State.
The statement partially stated, “The Party describes the landmark judgement that upheld the PDP Edo State Governorship Primary election, held on February 22, 2024, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, as a victory for democracy, rule of law, and a well-founded affirmation of the propriety and credibility of the primary election and the PDP’s internal democracy.”
“The spontaneous jubilation across Edo State at the news of the judgement reaffirms the PDP’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, as the undisputed preference of the majority of the people of Edo State in the coming governorship election.
The party acknowledges that the judgement confirms that the Edo State PDP Congresses and the Governorship Primary election, which produced Dr. Asue Ighodalo as a candidate, provided equal opportunities for all aspirants.
“The PDP congratulates Dr. Asue Ighodalo and urges all party members to remain united and continue to work together with the majority of the people of Edo State to ensure our party and candidate win the governorship election on September 21, 2024.”