A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship primary election that selected Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate.
The court ruled that the primary election, held on February 22, 2024, was invalid because 378 eligible delegates were unfairly excluded from participating in the voting process.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo delivered the judgment on Thursday, in response to a lawsuit filed by the disgruntled delegates, setting aside the primary election results.
The suit marked THC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 was instituted by one Hon Kelvin Mohammed in a representative capacity.
Justice Ekwo held that both the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP Guidelines were grossly violated in the conduct of the primary election at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin.
The party’s primary election was marred by controversy in February after the former deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu invaded the party’s national office, demanding recognition as the party’s legitimate governorship candidate.
Shaibu expressed concern that he was under threat of impeachment for doing the right thing in Edo State’s PDP.
Shaibu and Ighodalo emerged as the PDP’s governorship candidates in Edo State following simultaneous primaries held on February 22, 2023.
However, the PDP insisted that Ighodalo remains the party’s only candidate and gave him the certificate of return.
The PDP later said its legal team was waiting for Philip Shaibu in court over the party’s primary election dispute in the state.
