The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said the Federal High Court, Abuja, ruling did not in any way affect the candidature of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, in the September 21 gubernatorial election, insisting he remained the party’s standard bearer.
In a related development, the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal, has overturned the sack of the 25 Rivers State lawmakers said to be loyal to immediate past governor of the state and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT) Mr Nyesom Wike.
Not surprisingly, however, further reactions have begun to trail both developments. While the Edo PDP Campaign Council, has described the ruling as contrary to the previous ones, there were mixed feelings in Rivers between supporters of the feuding parties.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, had on Thursday, nullified PDP Governorship Primaries in Edo State, effectively canceling out Ighodalo from the race.
The court presided over by Justice Iyang Ekwo, declared that the PDP governorship nomination processes were non-compliant with its own constitution and decided to set aside all processes leading to the party governorship primaries held on February 22nd, 2024.
The court’s decision meant that the PDP would have no candidate for the upcoming gubernatorial election on September 21st in Edo State.
This ruling has, therefore, sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Edo State, dramatically altering subsisting permutations.
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, it stated: “The Party affirms that the congresses and subsequent governorship primary that produced Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the winner and Party’s flagbearer were duly and legally conducted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Constitution and Electoral Guidelines of the PDP, the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
PDP maintained that no eligible delegate was excluded from participating in the Primary election, which accreditation, polling, counting of ballot, collation and declaration of results were publicly conducted, monitored by officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City which exercise was also duly broadcasted live on national TV stations and multiple Social Media platforms.
Moreover, the PDP holds that pursuant to the provisions of Section 84 (14) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the case was even of no moment as the plaintiffs have no locus to question the outcome of the Primary election not being aspirants in the exercise.
“Additionally, it must be noted that the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs do not include the disqualification and/or nullification of the Primary election of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the winner of the Edo State Governorship Primary election of the PDP. The Court is not a Father Christmas.”
The PDP urged the public especially the people of Edo State to disregard the report and remain focused on their solidarity and support for the PDP and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
Corroborating this, Chairman of PDP in Edo State, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, also said in a statement that, “PDP is aware that certain elements, who are scared of the soaring popularity of our candidate Dr Asue Ighodalo are going about peddling rumours that the candidature of Dr. Asue Ighodalo has been nullified.
“Let it be on record that the candidature of Dr Asue Ighodalo as the flag bearer of the party for the 2024 elections remains intact and that the judgement of the Federal High court in Abuja did not in any way affect the candidature of Dr Asue Ighodalo
“We urge our teaming loyal supporters to remain calm and resolute as there is no cause for alarm,” Aziegbemi declared
The APC, while reacting to the court ruling, urged the PDP candidate to join hands with Senator Monday Okpebholo, candidate of APC to deliver Edo State
The APC statement, signed by the Director of Publicity of its Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo said, “Earlier today, a Federal High Court, Abuja presided over by Justice Ekwo nullified Edo PDP Governorship primary held on February 22nd, 2024, by Governor Godwin Obaseki’s faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“The news of the disqualification of Mr. Asue Ighodalo as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate has been received by Edo people as relief from imposition of forgery and continuation of self serving governance in our state.
“APC as a progressive party, is calling on Mr. Ighodalo to join hands with Senator Monday Okpebholo to retake the state and reset it for prosperity.
“What is more important at this point is the interest of Edo people who are eagerly waiting for solutions that will ensure food security, accessible and affordable healthcare, and thriving economy.”
Also, the PDP Campaign Council, described the ruling as contrary to previous ruling by the Appeal Court.
Director General of campaign council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, who stated this yesterday at a media press briefing, noted that the Justice Ekwo’s Court ruling that the issue of ward congresses was justiciable when the appeal court has set aside such ruling, affirming that choice of delegates are purely party affairs.
He said, “Today, July 4, 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Hon. Justice Ekwo entered a judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/165 of 2024 (HON. KELVIN MOHAMMED & 2 ORS VS INEC & 3 ORS), which was filed by some disgruntled persons who claimed that they were authentic delegates wrongly excluded from participating in the choice of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo State.
“In a strange development and contrary to a long line of Appellate Courts’ decision on the subject, the Hon. Justice held that the issue of ward congresses and choice of the delegates, is a justiciable matter which the court is entitled to look into.
“It must be noted that the Edo State PDP and the specific court involved in this matter have a history on exactly this same point in which the Appellate Court had cause to set aside similar decisions of that same Court and to restate the law that ward congresses and the choice of delegates are purely internal affairs of political parties outside the jurisdiction of any court.”
He, therefore, expressed confident that this new decision by the Federal High Court would not survive the test of appeal, and that all necessary steps in that regard were already being actively pursued.
Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah, Adibe Emenyonu and Blessing Ibunge
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