On 7th July, 2024 the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement released by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba while reacting to the nullification of the Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election of the PDP which produced Asue Ighodalo as the Candidate of the party in the upcoming Governorship Election in Edo State by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, revealed that smear campaigns and frivolous litigation aimed to distract the Gubernatorial Candidate from the PDP of the upcoming Governorship Election Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, were all efforts in futility as he was the undisputed choice of the majority of the people of the State.
According to Punch Newspaper, the National Publicity Secretary of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Debo Ologunagba said "The People's Democratic Party affirms that smear campaigns and frivolous litigation aimed to distract its candidate in the September 21, 2024, Edo State Governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, are all efforts in futility as he is the undisputed choice of the majority of the people of Edo State. The PDP alerts that it is aware of a well-oiled plot by certain egocentric and overtly ambitious individuals to orchestrate a series of coordinated smear campaigns against Dr. Asue Ighodalo, being frustrated by his emergence as a candidate, his overwhelming popularity across the state and the fact that he is already coasting to victory in the election."
Debo Ologunagba added that information available to them shows that some politicians were behind the erroneous report that the Gubernatorial Candidate from the PDP of the upcoming Governorship Election in Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo was nullified by the court when the court indeed did not issue any order to that effect.