On July 4, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated the PDP primary election.
This decision was the result of a lawsuit (FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024) filed by discontented delegates, represented by Kelvin Mohammed.
The judge nullified the primaries because 378 delegates, who had the right to vote, were unlawfully excluded, violating legal requirements.
The court identified substantial breaches of the Electoral Act 2022, PDP guidelines, and the party’s constitution during the primary held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.
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 judgment, 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 read in part, “The Party describes the landmark judgement which 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 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 notes that the judgement further validates the fact that all the aspirants at the Governorship Primary election were accorded level playing ground in the conduct of the Edo State PDP Congresses and Governorship Primary election that produced Dr. Asue Ighodalo as a candidate.
“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 the victory of our party and candidate in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.”
