Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, ruled on Thursday that the February 22, 2024, primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which resulted in the selection of Asue Ighodalo as its gubernatorial candidate, was invalid.
The declaration was made during the judgment of a lawsuit identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, brought by dissatisfied delegates, notably Kelvin Mohammed, representing others.
Justice Ekwo invalidated the primaries due to the exclusion of 378 delegates who were supposed to participate, citing unlawful actions by the PDP. He emphasized that both the Electoral Act of 2022 and the PDP guidelines were egregiously violated during the conduct of the primary election at Benin’s Samuel Ogbemudia stadium.
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“The returning officers who prepared the result sheets merely manufactured the outcome without proper sitting,” remarked Justice Ekwo, criticizing the procedural irregularities.
He further asserted that the exclusion of 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, contravened legal provisions. Despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) filing a memorandum of appearance without further participation, the judge noted that INEC expressed readiness to abide by the court’s decision.
“In my judgment, the plaintiffs’ case succeeds on its merits,” Justice Ekwo concluded.
The lawsuit was filed against INEC, the PDP, its national secretary, and the vice chairman of the South-South region, listed as the first to fourth defendants, respectively.
