Edo 2024: PDP reacts to court judgment voiding its primary

By Jethro Ibileke

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has reacted to the voiding of the party’s governorship primary election by a Federal High Court, Abuja.

The presiding Judge of the Court, Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, had Thursday morning declared as invalid the party’s primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as its governorship candidate.

The primary election which held on 22 February, 2024, was voided on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded by PDP.

The suit marked THC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 was instituted by one Hon Kelvin Mohammed on behalf of aggrieved delegates.

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.

Reacting to the Court judgement in a statement, the state chairman of the PDP, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, called on members of the party to remain calm.

He assured that Asue Ighodalo remains the party’s candidate.

The statement said:

“The PDP is aware that certain elements who are scared of the soaring popularity of our candidate Dr Asue Ighodalo are going about peddling rumors 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.”