The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party‘s primary election in Edo State, which took place on February 22, 2024, is invalid.
The court found that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote were unlawfully excluded from the primary election, in violation of the law.
As a result, the primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the governorship candidate has been declared invalid.
The lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, was brought by aggrieved delegates, including Kelvin Mohammed, who represented the group.
The court found that there were significant violations of the Electoral Act 2022, PDP guidelines, and the party’s constitution during the primary election held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.
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The evidence presented by the PDP was deemed insufficient and lacking in proof, indicating that the returning officers manipulated the result sheets.
The court noted that the plaintiffs successfully proved their case against the defendants through the exhibits presented. Additionally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was named as the first defendant in the suit.
INEC filed a memorandum of appearance but did not submit any further processes in the case. INEC’s counsel declared that they would abide by the court’s decision and upheld the plaintiffs’ arguments.
The group of 378 ad-hoc delegates, allegedly loyal to the impeached Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, sued INEC, PDP, its National Secretary, and the Vice Chairman South-South.
The plaintiffs sought an order for the defendants or their agents to show cause why the 378 delegates should not be excluded from participating in the primaries.
The plaintiffs argued that it would be in the interest of justice for their reliefs to be granted.
