PDP insists Ighodalo as Edo governor candidate despite court ruling

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Thursday that Asue Ighodalo remains its candidate in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

The party was reacting to a court ruling on the state’s February 22 primary election.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday annulled the primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State.

The judge gave the verdict in a lawsuit filed by some PDP members in Edo State led by Kelvin Mohammed.

He annulled the election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City for violating the Electoral Act, PDP guidelines and the constitution.

Justice Ekwo held that the PDP had unlawfully excluded 378 delegates from the exercise.

He stated that the plaintiff succeeded in proving his lawsuit against PDP with evidence submitted in court.

However, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party said the primaries that produced Ighodalo followed due process and no qualified delegates were excluded.

The PDP insisted that the court did not issue any order nullifying the selection of Ighodalo as the party’s candidate for Edo, as there was no reason whatsoever for it.

The party insists that the congress and primaries that produced Ighodalo were conducted legitimately.

The statement read: “The PDP affirms that no qualified delegate shall be excluded from participating in the primaries whose accreditation, voting, counting of votes, tallying and declaration of results shall be conducted in an open manner.

“The process was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

The exercise was also broadcast live on national television stations and various social media platforms.

“In addition, the PDP is of the opinion that based on the provisions of Article 84 Paragraph (14) of the 2022 Election Law, this case is not important because the plaintiffs have no place to question the results of the preliminary election because they are not candidates in the election.

“Furthermore, it is to be noted that the relief sought by the plaintiff does not include the disqualification and/or nullification of Ighodalo’s primaries as the winner of the Edo governorship primaries from the PDP.

“The court is not Santa Claus.”

The PDP urged Edo people to ignore the reports and remain focused on their support for their candidate.

PDP insists on Ighodalo as Edo governorship candidate despite court ruling first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.