Federal Court Nullifies PDP Primary Election in Edo, Cites Voting Irregularities and Delegate Exclusion
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the PDP's primary election, which selected Asue Ighodalo as the party's gubernatorial candidate for Edo state, is invalid. According to Daily Trust, the court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, determined that the primary held on February 22, 2024 failed to comply with relevant electoral laws, guidelines, and the party's own constitution.
The judge found evidence that the poll results were essentially fabricated by the returning officers. He also ruled that the exclusion of 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, went against legal requirements.
While INEC, the electoral commission, did not actively participate in the case, it stated it would abide by the court's decision. Three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates, representing 378 others, had filed the lawsuit against INEC and various PDP officials, seeking to prevent their unlawful exclusion from the primary election process.
In summary, the court invalidated the PDP's gubernatorial primary in Edo due to serious procedural and legal violations, siding with the delegate plaintiffs who challenged their unjust exclusion from the nomination process.