- Justice Inyang Ekwo declared the primary invalid on the grounds that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote were unlawfully excluded by the PDP.
- The court 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 suit was instituted by aggrieved delegate Kelvin Mohammed in a representative capacity.
Newsypeople- A court in Abuja recently made a big decision about the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship primary election in Edo State. The election was held on February 22, 2024, and it resulted in Asue Ighodalo becoming the party’s candidate for governor.
However, other candidates, including former deputy governor Philip Shaibu, were not happy with the outcome.
Some delegates who were supposed to vote in the election filed a lawsuit. The judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, ruled that the primary election was not valid. The reason? A total of 378 delegates were not allowed to participate in the voting process at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
This was against the rules set by the PDP and the Electoral Act 2022.The court found that the PDP did not follow the proper guidelines and laws when conducting the primary election.
By not letting the 378 delegates vote, including the people who filed the lawsuit, the party violated the law. Justice Ekwo said that the case made by the delegates was correct and justified.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which was named as a defendant in the lawsuit, did not present any arguments. They agreed to accept the court’s decision. However, the PDP in Edo State does not agree with the ruling. The party chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, insists that Asue Ighodalo’s candidacy is still valid. He has asked supporters to stay calm and assured them that there is no need to worry.
The court order shows that following election rules is very important. Elections must be fair and open to everyone. This ruling will impact the upcoming governorship election in Edo State in a big way. All candidates and parties need to make sure they obey the laws.
Elections should allow every eligible voter to participate freely. The court took this matter seriously to protect the democratic process.
See the news below…
Breaking: Court Declares PDP Primary Poll on Edo Governorship Election Invalid#southeast #edostate #edoelection pic.twitter.com/tbpspvcf7D
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