The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organisation has rejected the Abuja Federal High Court’s judgment that nullified the election of Barrister Asue Ighodalo as the party’s flagbearer for the upcoming September 21 governorship poll.
In contrast, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has invited the embattled PDP governorship candidate to defect to their party.
In rejecting Justice Inyang Ekwo’s verdict in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/165 of 2024, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, Director-General of the PDP Campaign Council, described the judgment as “a strange development and contrary to a long line of Appellate Courts’ decisions on the subject.”
Speaking at a press conference in Benin City on Thursday, Iduoriyekemwen expressed confidence that the judgment would not hold up on appeal.
He stated, “Today, July 4, 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Hon. Justice Ekwo, entered a judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/165 of 2024 (HON. KELVIN MOHAMMED & 2 ORS VS INEC & 3 ORS), filed by individuals claiming to be authentic delegates wrongly excluded from participating in the choice of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo State.
In a strange development and contrary to a long line of Appellate Courts’ decisions on the subject, the Hon. Justice held that the issue of ward congresses and choice of delegates is a justiciable matter that the court is entitled to look into.”
Iduoriyekemwen noted that this ruling did not invalidate the outcome of the PDP primary election, which produced Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie. He emphasized the campaign council’s belief that the judgment would not survive the appeal process.
“The Edo State PDP and the specific court involved have a history with this same point, where the Appellate Court has previously set aside similar decisions and restated the law that ward congresses and the choice of delegates are purely internal affairs of political parties outside the jurisdiction of any court,” he added.
Iduoriyekemwen urged party members, supporters, and the people of Edo State to remain calm and ignore the misinformation being spread by mischief makers.
He assured that the truth would be revealed in due time when the actual judgment is made public.
Meanwhile, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, Director of the Publicity Committee for the APC Governorship Campaign Council, commented on the court judgment, urging Ighodalo to join forces with Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC flagbearer, to move Edo State forward.
Omo-Ojo claimed that the disqualification of Ighodalo was seen by the people of Edo as a “relief from the imposition of forgery and the continuation of self-serving governance in our state.”
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