Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Edo State, praised the Federal High Court's decision in Abuja on Thursday that annulled the primary election which had declared Asue Ighodalo as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the upcoming September 21 election.
According to report from punch, the court found the February 22, 2024, primary invalid because the PDP unlawfully excluded 378 registered delegates from voting. Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by the aggrieved delegates, represented by Kelvin Mohammed (THC/ABJ/CS/165/2024). Ekwo noted that the PDP's primary election at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, Edo State, grossly violated both the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP guidelines.
In response, Okpebholo released a statement in Abuja, calling the judgment proof of the PDP's inability to lawfully manage its internal affairs. He criticized the PDP as a lawless party operating like a mafia organization and praised the court for preventing further suffering for Edo people under PDP rule.
Okpebholo asserted that the APC is the party to beat in the upcoming election, promising a focus on the people's interests. He expressed optimism that the APC would restore prosperity to Edo State, which he claimed had been lacking since the end of Senator Adams Oshiomhole's tenure as governor. He emphasized the importance of reconnecting Edo State to the national center for better benefits and development.
With the court ruling, Okpebholo believed that the disarray within the PDP had been exposed, reinforcing the need for APC leadership. He assured voters that the APC would deliver the best governance for Edo State, concluding with a hopeful message for the future.