In a surprising twist, the Federal High Court in Abuja, led by Justice Inyang Ekwo, has made a decisive ruling that cancels Asue Ighodalo’s candidacy for the upcoming Edo State governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This ruling comes after a legal challenge to the way the PDP conducted its primary election.
Justice Ekwo’s ruling, issued on Thursday, declares the PDP’s primary election held on February 22 null and void. The court found that the election did not follow the rules set out in the Electoral Act of 2022, the guidelines for conducting elections, and even the PDP’s own rules.
The judge pointed out serious problems with how the election was run. He highlighted that 381 delegates, including those who brought the case to court, were unfairly excluded from voting. The evidence presented by the plaintiffs, who represented many others from across Edo State, showed that the election process was flawed. The court criticized how result sheets seemed to have been made up without following proper election procedures, which called into question the fairness of the outcome.
The plaintiffs, led by Hon. Kelvin Mohammed, Mr. Gabriel Okoduwa, and Mr. Ederaho Osagie, took the PDP, its national secretary, the vice chairman for the South-South region, and INEC to court. They wanted the court to force the defendants to explain why they left out delegates who were supposed to participate in the February 22 primaries in Edo State.
Justice Ekwo’s decision is seen as a strong message about the importance of following the law and making sure elections are fair. Even though INEC showed up in court, it did not give a strong defense, which helped the plaintiffs’ case.
This ruling has caused a stir in Edo State and beyond, especially as the governorship election scheduled for September 21 draws closer. People are wondering how the PDP will react to this setback and what it means for the political scene leading up to the election.
The court’s decision highlights how crucial it is for the judicial system to oversee elections, ensuring they are transparent and fair for everyone involved in Nigeria’s electoral process. As everyone waits to see what happens next, this ruling could have a big impact on how politics unfolds in Edo State in the coming weeks.