The Certified True Copy (CTC) of Justice Inyang Ekwo’s judgment from the Federal High Court in Abuja reveals that the primary election that selected Asue Ighodalo as the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate was not invalidated. According to THIS DAY newspaper report, the ruling did not address the validity of Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, as candidates.
In light of this, residents of Ighodalo’s hometown, Ewohimi in Esan South East Local Government Area, Edo State, have pledged to deliver strong support for him in the upcoming September 21 governorship election. Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State remains confident in their chances of winning the 2024 governorship election. Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, attributed this confidence to the apparent disarray within the PDP.
The CTC clarified misconceptions surrounding the court ruling, which ordered the inclusion of plaintiffs and 378 other delegates in the PDP primary election, rather than invalidating the primary itself.Three aggrieved delegates had sued the PDP for their exclusion from the February 22 primary that produced Ighodalo as the PDP candidate. The court ruled their exclusion breached the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines, thus mandating their inclusion in future processes.
Justice Ekwo emphasized the necessity for political parties to adhere to their constitutions, the Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, declaring them lawfully elected delegates and ordering their inclusion in the February 22 primary election. Addressing the press, Oshiomhole denied any APC involvement in the PDP’s primary election crisis, attributing it solely to internal PDP issues. He emphasized the need for parties to comply with electoral laws and their constitutions.
Oshiomhole and Momoh visited President Bola Tinubu to update him on their campaign activities and expressed confidence in their increasing support. They highlighted the APC's strongholds in Edo North and Central Senatorial Districts, viewing the South Senatorial District as the primary battleground. THIS DAY newspaper also stated that In Ighodalo’s Ewohimi community, residents expressed their commitment to supporting him in the governorship election, citing his consistent efforts to improve their community and his track record in both the private sector and governance.