A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullifying the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election of February 22, 2024.
The primary election produced Asue Ighodalo as party’s candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment on Thursday, held that the PDP’s primary election failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022; the guidelines for the conduct of the poll and the party’s constitution.
Justice Ekwo, who said that the Exhibit PDP 1 tendered by the party was bereft of evidence, held that the plaintiffs, through the exhibits tendered, were able to establish their case against the defendants.
The judge said that from the exhibit presented by the PDP, he found that the returning officers who prepared the result sheets only sat down in a place to manufacture the outcome.of the poll.
He said the exclusion of the 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, were against the provisions of the law.
Justice Ekwo held that, though INEC, the 1st defendant, filed a memorandum of appearance in the suit, it was unfortunate that the commission did not file any process in the case.
According to the judge, the 1st defendant counsel only said it will be bound by the decision of the court.
“I found that the case of the plaintiffs succeed on merit,” he said.
