Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election. Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a prominent human rights lawyer and former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, recently expressed his thoughts on the matter via his official X account.
Asue Ighodalo was chosen as the PDP's candidate for governor in the primary election that took place on February 22, 2024. But Justice Ekwo nullified the results, saying that 378 delegates who were eligible to vote were unlawfully excluded. "Iyang Ekwo, that judge who was recently disciplined by @njcNig has struck again with a bespoke transaction!" There was writing by Odinkalu.
The ruling of Justice Ekwo has caused a stir in the political sphere. The court ruled that the exclusion of 378 delegates was a serious breach of the electoral process. Justice Ekwo has a checkered past when it comes to the court system. The National Judicial Council's (NJC) latest disciplinary action has cast doubt on his decisions even further. Odinkalu's remarks bring attention to the persistent conflicts between Nigeria's political players and the judiciary.