TheNewsGuru

Tag: ASUE IGHODALO

  • Edo governorship: How Ojezua lost appeal against Ighodalo

    Edo governorship: How Ojezua lost appeal against Ighodalo

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday affirmed the nomination of Asue Ighodalo as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Sept. 21 governorship election in Edo. A three-member panel of the appellate court affirmed Ighodalo’s nomination shortly after dismissing the appeal file by an aspirant, Anselm Ojezua, for being incompetent and lacking in merit.

    Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the federal high court in Abuja, had on June 26 dismissed Ojezua’s suit challenging the return of Ighodalo as winner of the Feb. 22 primary election of the PDP. Ojezua had prayed the court to nullify Ighodalo’s nomination on grounds of irregularities and manipulation of the delegates list used for the conduct of the primary.

    However, Egwuatu in that judgment held that he lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case of the plaintiff because he did not exhaust the internal mechanism of the PDP before rushing to court. He subsequently struck out the suit and declined to go into the merit.

    Dissatisfied, Ojezua appealed the judgment on the grounds that the trial court was wrong in holding that his suit was premature. He added that Justice Egwuatu also erred in law by refusing to proceed with the merit of his case after its dismissal. The appellant therefore prayed the court to set aside the judgement of the trial court and invoke Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Rules to go into the merit of the case.

    However, three-member panel of the appellate court in a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Obiorah held that the judgment of the trial court was “spot on” and as such no reason whatsoever to deviate from it.

    According to the appellate court since conditions precedent were not fulfilled by the plaintiff, the trial court was right to decline jurisdiction. Justice Obiorah held that the none exhaustion of the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the PDP was fatal to the case of the appellant. The appellate court noted that the plaintiff had written some petitions to the Chairman of the PDP three man ward panel as well as the Chairman of the Edo State PDP Primary Election Panel.

    He added wherein he had alleged manipulation of the delegate list and cast aspersions on the process of the primary election, he did not say anywhere that he made any compliant about the conduct of the February 22 primary that produced Ighodalo as candidate.

    Obiorah added that Ojezua, inspite of  being aware of the PDP’s Electoral Appeal Panel, did not lodge any compliant about the conduct of the primary there before rushing to court.

    Besides, the appellate court faulted the appellant for seeking to separate the event leading to the primary election and the primary itself, noting that the alleged manipulation of delegate list cannot stand alone.

    The appellate court further pointed out that where there are laid down rules it is not only biding on political parties but also there members. He added that candidates just as political parties are expected to abide by their own constitution and guidelines.

    “I resolve this issue against the appellant and in favour of the respondents “, Justice Obiorah held, adding that the trial court was right in striking out the case for want of jurisdiction.”

    The appellate court faulted the trial judge for refusing to proceed with the merit of the case.

    It however, held that invoking the Court of Appeal Rules to go into the merit of the case, would be of no use having agreed that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

    “Since the lower court has no jurisdiction there is nothing for this court to invoke Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Rules.

    “I cannot fault the decision of the lower court, accordingly I found no merit in this appeal, the only order to make is an order dismissing the appeal and I so do, the judgement of the lower court dismissing the suit for want of jurisdiction is hereby affirmed”, Obiorah held.

  • BREAKING: Appeal Court upholds Asue Ighodalo’s candidacy

    BREAKING: Appeal Court upholds Asue Ighodalo’s candidacy

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has overturned the judgement of a Federal High Court which ordered the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to allow the participation of 381 ad-hoc delegates in its February 22 primary election in Edo State.

    The primary election produced Asue Ighodalo as the candidate of the party in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state.

    A three-man panel of the appellate court set aside the judgement of Justice Inyang Ekwo delivered on the 4th of July, 2024, on the grounds that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit of the aggrieved delegates in the first place, having lacked the necessary legal rights to initiate the suit.

    In a unanimous decision, the court held that it cannot interfere with how the PDP select it’s candidate for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

     Justice Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had in July voided the PDP governorship election in Edo State on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded by the party.

    The suit was instituted by one Kelvin Mohammed in a representative capacity.

    Justice Ekwo held that both the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP guidelines were violated in the conduct of the primary election at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Justice Ekwo, who said that 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, was against the provisions of the law.

    Justice Ekwo held that, though the Independent National Electoral Commission (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’s counsel only said it would be bound by the decision of the court.

    “I found that the case of the plaintiffs succeeds on merit,” he had said.

    The three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates, on behalf of the 378 others, had sued INEC, the PDP, its national secretary, and the vice chairman, South-South as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    In the suit, the plaintiffs sought two orders.

    These include an order for the defendants or their agents not to act but to show cause why the reliefs of the plaintiffs in their originating summons should not be granted concerning the plan of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants to exclude them and 378 other delegates, whose names and election results are contained in “Exhibits BID 8A to 8L,” from participating in the primaries of Feb. 22 in Edo.

    The plaintiffs, which include Kelvin Mohammed, Gabriel Okoduwa, and Ederaho Osagie, on behalf of others in 12 local government areas and 127 wards, averred that it would be in the interest of justice for their reliefs to be granted.

     

     

     

  • Edo 2024: Oshiomhole faces possible N20b suit over malicious slander against Ighodalo

    Edo 2024: Oshiomhole faces possible N20b suit over malicious slander against Ighodalo

    Senator Adams Oshiomhole has been given seven days to retract an alleged “malicious and slanderous statement” reportedly made against Dr Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

    The Senator, representing Edo North Senatorial District at the National Assembly (NASS), was also told to tender both private and public apologies to Dr Ighodalo for the alleged infraction or face a N20 billion legal action.

    This is contained in a letter dated August 12, 2024 by Ayo Asala, SAN & Associates, solicitors and lawyers to Ighodalo, whom Senator Oshiomhole, a former Governor of Edo State, reportedly slandered maliciously when he appeared on a national television, Arise News.

    While appearing on the national television, Oshiomhole was reported to have made very wild and unsubstantiated claims, and lied about the status of Ighodalo’s candidacy.

    “Even when cautioned and warned about the fallacy by the moderators of the programme, he maintained his claims and also made other derogatory remarks about Ighodalo, thus directly attacking his person, reputation and integrity last week,” the letter reads in part.

    The letter which was sighted by our correspondent, added:

    “On or about 7th day of August 2024, our client’s attention was drawn to widely circulated statements made by you while being interviewed on a National Television Station, Arise News, during its Morning Show Program, touching and concerned our clients.

    “These statement have also seen widely circulated on various social media platforms including ‘X’ (formally called Twitter), ‘WhatsApp’ and ‘Facebook’ and others.”

    Ighodalo’s lawyers then specifically demanded that Oshiomhole should within seven days of receipt of the letter, write a private letter of apology and retraction of the alleged false and defamatory utterances to Ighodalo.

    The former Governor of Edo State was also asked to make a further public letter of apology and retraction that will be published on Arise TV and in two national newspapers.

    Ighodalo’s lawyers concluded that failure to act on their demands would lead to legal action, involving a claim of N20 billion for damages without any further notice.

  • Appeal Court affirms Ighodalo as PDP candidate

    Appeal Court affirms Ighodalo as PDP candidate

    The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has rejected an appeal to nullify the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as its candidate for the upcoming Governorship Election in Edo.

    The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by A. M Lamido, on Monday, dismissed the appeal filed by the embattled Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shaibu.

    Shaibu was earlier impeached from office but recently got reinstated by the court.

    While dismissing the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/642/2024, for want of merit, Lamido held that it found no reason to set aside the May 27 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The court further ruled that the trial court was right for refusing to invalidate the outcome of PDP primary election based on the suit by the appellant.

    It awarded a N1million cost against the appellant.

    Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court had, in his judgment that was affirmed by the appellate court, held that Shaibu lacked the legal right to seek to nullify the outcome of the primary poll.

    Omotosho further held that the plaintiff did not meet the condition precedent to confer such a legal right on him.

    According to the court, no evidence was adduced to establish that he participated in the primary election he sought to nullify its outcome.

    Omotosho held that it was a basic requirement of the law that a plaintiff must take part in a disputed election to be able to challenge its outcome in court.

    He said that there was overwhelming evidence that the plaintiff was never physically present at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, where the primary election of February 22 took place.

    Shaibu had in the suit prayed the court to issue an order stopping the INEC from accepting or recognising Ighodalo as the gubernatorial flag bearer of PDP in the election.

    He contended that the primary election that produced Ighodalo was not conducted in compliance with both the Electoral Act and party Constitution.

    He prayed the court to, among other things, compel the party to conduct a fresh primary election in the State.

  • Edo: PDP Campaign Council reacts over judgement affirming Ighodalo’s candidacy

    Edo: PDP Campaign Council reacts over judgement affirming Ighodalo’s candidacy

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council for the Sept. 21 governorship election in Edo, on Wednesday hailed the judgment affirming the candidacy of Dr Asue Ighodalo.

    It would be recalled that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday affirmed Ighodalo as the duly nominated and authentic Governorship Candidate of the PDP for the election.

    In a statement, Rev. Olu Martins, then deputy director general, Media and Publicity of the council, said those looking for the back door into Osadebey Avenue (seat of government) had further been weakened by the judgment.

    “The campaign council rejoices with our teaming supporters and party members and leaders, who continued to brace the odds against the forces of lies and falsehood, which constantly oozes from the stable of the opposition.

    “Long live the People’s Democratic Party, Long live Edo State and Long live Dr Asue Ighodalo and Barrister Osarodion Ogie. Like Dim Ojukwu says, on aburi we stand, on Dr Asue Ighodalo we stand,” he said.

  • Edo 2024: Withdraw from governorship race – Okpebholo tells Ighodalo

    Edo 2024: Withdraw from governorship race – Okpebholo tells Ighodalo

    Sen. Monday Okpebholo, APC Governorship Candidate for Sept. 21 election has hailed the Federal High Court judgement nullifying the primaries that produced the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Asue Ighodalo.

    Okpebholo, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said the judgment was a clear indication that the APC was the party to beat in the upcoming Sept. 21 Edo governorship polls.

    He assured that the people of the state would always come first.

    The APC governorship candidate called on the PDP candidate, Ighodalo, to take the path of honour and withdraw from the race, having been misled by PDP stakeholders.

    He alleged that the policies of the PDP-led government in Edo, the level of insecurity, unemployment, cultism, perennial floods, bad roads and disregard for traditional institutions was poor.

    He claimed that the faith of the PDP candidate was a clear pointer to the failure that awaited the party in the forthcoming Edo governorship election.

    “I welcome the court judgment given on Thursday by a Federal High Court in Abuja, the courtnhas saved Edo people of another four years of pains and agonies,” he said.

    Okpebholo added that what the PDP called primaries were a far cry, noting that with just two months to a crucial election, it was unable to put its house in order.

    He called on Edo people to rally round him and the APC to bring back the lost glory of the state, adding that if elected, his administration would be committed to taking the state to greater heights.

    He noted that since the exit of Sen. Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo, its people had not had any reason to celebrate.

    “This will change in September when the people will take power back through the ballot. Edo has been cut off from the centre for too long.

    “We can see this from the level of abandonment, we need to return Edo to the centre and enjoy all the benefits that we truly deserve. We are optimistic.

    “With this judgment, Edo people can clearly see that the PDP is a chaotic party and can’t be allowed to continue to lead our dear State.

    “With the APC, I assure you of the best,our best is yet to come,” the APC Edo governorship candidate said.

    The court, in its ruling, declared as invalid the primary election that produced Ighodalo as PDP governorship candidate.

    The primary election conducted on Feb. 22, 2024, was voided on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded.

    Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo invalidated the primary election while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by some aggrieved delegates.

    The suit was instituted by one Kelvin Mohammed in a representative capacity.

    Ekwo held that both the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP guidelines were grossly violated in the conduct of the primary election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin, Edo capital.

    Details of how court declared Edo PDP Governorship Primary unlawful

    A Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, declared the Feb. 22 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as party’s candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo as unlawful and unconstitutional.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, agreed with the plaintiffs’ submission that the primary failed to comply with Sections 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022; the guidelines for the conduct of the poll and Article 50(3) of the party’s constitution.

    The judge held that by virtue of the Ad Hoc delegates congress conducted on Feb. 4 and the exclusion of the three plaintiffs and 378 other lawful delegates, making 381 delegates, in the Feb. 22 primary poll, the election was a nullity.

    Citing judicial authorities, Justice Ekwo said “it is mandatory for a political party such as the 2nd defendant (PDP) to comply with its constitution.”

    Also making allusion to a previous case in Christian vs. Innocent (2023), he said a party must therefore respect and honour its guidelines or constitution.

    “Parties are bound by the constitution of Nigeria, the Electoral Act and their own constitution and guidelines.

    “Where they act contrary to the provisions of the law and the guidelines which they have enacted for themselves, such actions will be declared invalid,” he quoted.

    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.

    “I do not see how Exhibit PDP1 has complied with the provision of Article 5O (3) of the 2nd defendant’s constitution which makes mandatory provision that the Congress for 3 delegates shall be by direct primaries in which all card-carrying members of the party at the ward level shall participate.

    “Unlike Exhibits BID 8A to 8L, Exhibit PDP1 does not demonstrate that the said results emanated from direct primaries in which all card-carrying members of the party at the ward level shail participate.

    “There is therefore, no evidence that Exhibit PDP1 complied with the provision of the 2nd defendant’s constitution.

    “It has always been the law that where a statute or statutory instrument provides for a mode or method of doing a thing, non-compliance with such a prescribed mode or method goes to the root of the matter and it affects the foundation.

    “The lapse is beyond mere irregularity, and it is ultra vires. In other words, it is null and void and of no effect,” he said.

    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 Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, the National Legal Adviser of the party, who gave information to the deponent in their counter affidavit, was not an eye witness of the ward congress purportedly conducted by the PDP.

    He also said the deponent, Nanchang Ndam, a litigation secretary in the PDP Directorate, was also not an eye witness.

    “Not being persons on ground at the time that the said congress was held, A. K. Ajibade, SAN who gave information to the deponent failed to state his source of information.

    “Be that as it may, I have noted upon studying Exhibit PDP1 of the 2nd defendant, that the said Result Sheets do not qualify as Ward Congress Result Sheets going by the provision of Article 1 (b) (i) of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections of 22nd February, 2024 of the 2nd defendant which makes it for each Ward Chapter of the Party to elect three (3) Ward Ad-Hoc Delegates at a Special Ward Congress.

    “Where election of delegates in a Ward Congress is in issue, the only credible evidence is the Result Sheet of the Congress of each Ward Chapter of the party where such congress was held and not ‘Summary of Result Sheets for Elected 3 Ad Hoc Ward Delegates’ by Local Government Areas which the 2nd defendant has tendered in this case.

    “I find that the said ‘Summary of Result Sheets for Elected 3 Ad Hoc Ward Delegates’ (Exh. PDP1) are hurriedly manufactured documents leaving quite a brazen trial of their illegalities.

    “What happened here is that two people sat down and wrote and signed some of the Result Sheets and in the process failed to signed some together and outrightly failed to sign other sheets.

    “As for the unsigned documents, the law is clear that unsigned documents command no judicial validity and have no evidential or probative value,” the judge said.

    Three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates, for themselves and on behalf of the 378 others, had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, its national secretary and the vice chairman, south south as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    In the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 dated Feb. 7 but filed Feb 8, the plaintiffs put four questions for determination and sought for two orders.

    The number four question read: “Whether by virtue of the provisions of Article 50(3) of the constitution of the 2nd defendant, an exclusion of the plaintiffs and other lawfully elected delegates whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L, from participating in the scheduled governorship primary election of the 22nd of February, 2024 by the defendants, such primary election can be said to be lawful, valid, legitimate or constitutional?”

    Delivering the judgment, Justice Ekwo answered the number four question posed by the plaintiffs in affirmative.

    “Consequently, I find that the case of the plaintiffs succeeds on the merit upon preponderance of evidence as required by law.

    “Before I answer the questions formulated by the plaintiffs, there is need to say that question 1 did not adduce evidence on it.

    “I answer the other questions as follows: Question 2 in the affirmative; question 3 in the negative, and question 4 in the affirmative.

    “I enter judgement on the terms as follows:

    “A declaration is hereby made that by virtue of the provisions of Article 50 (3) of the Constitution of the 2nd defendant (as amended in 2017), the plaintiffs together with the other lawfully elected delegates, whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L herein, are the lawfully elected Ward Congress Delegates in their respective wards and by virtue of which the defendants cannot exclude them from participating as 3 Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates at the governorship primary election of Edo State slated for the 22 of February, 2024 or any other date.

    “An order is hereby made directing the defendants who are bound by the provisions of Section 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Article 50 (3) of the 2nd defendant’s constitution (as amended in 2017) to abide by the outcome of the 3 Ad-Hoc Delegates Ward Congress of February 4, 2024, at which the plaintiffs and the other 378 delegates, whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L were elected and to allow the plaintiffs and the 375 other lawfully elected delegates participate in the primary election of February 22, 2024.

    “An order of Mandatory Injunction is hereby made restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd defendants from unlawfully excluding the plaintiffs and the other lawfully elected delegates whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L herein, from participating as 3 Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates in the governorship election primaries of the 2nd defendant slated for the 22nd of February, 2024 or any other date.

    “This is the order of this court,” the judge said.

    Earlier, Justice Ekwo also 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 the commission will be bound by the decision of the court.

    “There is need to say that it is not helpful to the cause of justice for the 1st defendant (INEC) who by virtue of its statutory and constitutional functions and power to observe and monitor conventions, congresses and meetings of political parties and to keep records of the activities of all registered political parties, does file process nor actively take part in proceedings in order to assist the court.

    “Where the law gives power, duty or function to a person, the expectation of the law is that such a person shall exercise such power and perform such duty or function creditably and lawfully, and shall take responsibility where such is required.

    “Let me stop here. I know that the 1st defendant has heard me well,” the judge said.

    The 381 delegates are those loyal to Philip Shaibu, the impeached deputy governor.

  • Edo 2024: PDP kicks, insists Ighodalo is party’s flagbearer

    Edo 2024: PDP kicks, insists Ighodalo is party’s flagbearer

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state has reacted to the nullification of the party’s governorship election, insisting that Asue Ighodalo is its flagbearer.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja voided the February 2024 election that produced Ighodalo on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded by PDP.

    However,  the party is  insisting  that the Lagos-based lawyer remains its flagbearer ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

    “Let it be on record that the candidature of Dr Asue Ighodalo as the flag bearer of the party for the 2024 elections remains intact and that the judgement of the Federal High court in Abuja did not in any way affect the candidature of Dr Asue Ighodalo,” Edo PDP Chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, said in a statement shortly after the court ruling.

    The Edo PDP noted that some elements within the state were spreading rumours about its candidate, claiming they were scared of Ighodalo’s rising popularity.

    Although it did not reveal the identities of the elements, the PDP called on its members to remain calm, assuring that there is no cause to be worried by the development.

    “The PDP is aware that certain elements who are scared of the soaring popularity of our candidate Dr Asue Ighodalo are going about peddling rumours that the candidature of Dr Asue Ighodalo has been nullified.

    “We urge our teaming loyal supporters to remain calm and resolute as there is no cause for alarm.”

  • Edo 2024: Philip Shaibu celebrates Ighodalo’s PDP ticket loss; PDP reacts

    Edo 2024: Philip Shaibu celebrates Ighodalo’s PDP ticket loss; PDP reacts

    Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt Hon Philip Shaibu has celebrated the reported disqualification of Asue Ighodalo as governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the elections set to hold in the State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports a Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, invalidated the PDP primary election that produced Ighodalo as party’s candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo.

    The former Deputy Governor in a video now trending on social media indicated that the court’s ruling invalidating the PDP’s governorship primary election supports his prior claim that the PDP failed to hold a proper primary election.

    “I said it from day one that I have the authentic delegates and they voted for me on the day of the primary.

    “I said that what happened that day at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was like a birthday party or a wedding reception because the real people that were supposed to vote were not there but with the court now I have been vindicated.

    “I have been vindicated and I salute the judiciary. This victory is for the Edo people, it is for democracy and by the grace of God, we will take our state back from outsiders,” Shaibu said.

    Recall the Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, invalidated the PDP primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as party’s candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, held that the PDP’s primary held on Feb. 22 failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022; the guidelines for the conduct of the poll amd 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.

    Three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates, on behalf of the 378 others, had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, its national secretary and the vice chairman, south south as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 dated Feb. 7 but filed Feb 8, the plaintiffs sought for two orders

    These include an order for the defendants or their agents not to act but to show cause why the reliefs of the plaintiffs in their originating summons should not be granted with regard to the plan of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants to exclude them and 378 other delegates, whose names and election results are contained in “Exhibits BID 8A to 8L,” from participating in the primaries.of Feb. 22 in Edo.

    The plaintiffs, which include Hon Kelvin Mohammed, Mr Gabriel Okoduwa and Mr Ederaho Osagie, on behalf of others in 12 local government areas and 127 wards, averred that it would be in the interest of justice for their reliefs to be granted.

    Meanwhile, the PDP in Edo has said the Federal High Court’s judgment on its primaries does not affect its governorship candidature in the coming governorship election in the state.

    The party stated in Benin on Thursday that Dr Asue Ighodalo remained the PDP governorship candidate in Edo.

    Dr Tony Aziegbemi, the state PDP chairman, said that Ighodalo’s candidature for the 2024 election remained intact.

    “The PDP is aware that certain elements who are scared of the soaring popularity of our candidate are going about peddling rumours that  Ighodalo candidature has been nullified.

    “Let it be on record that Ighodalo is the PDP flagbearer for the 2024 governorship election in Edo,” he said.

    It would be recalled that the Federal High court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, voided the PDP primary election conducted on Feb. 22.

    The judgment was voided on grounds that the 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primaries were unlawfully excluded by the  PDP.

  • Edo 2024: Akpabio boasts Obaseki must be defeated

    Edo 2024: Akpabio boasts Obaseki must be defeated

    President of the Nigeria, Senator Godswill Akpabio has charged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defeat Governor Godwin Obaseki and his anointed candidate, Asue Ighodalo in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

    Senator Akpabio gave the charge on Sunday when he addressed the South-South APC conference held in Calabar, Cross River State.

    “For those of you from Edo state and any part of the South-South region, the election that is coming up in September 2024, you all must head towards Edo both in prayers and everything we have because we are going to defeat Obaseki,” the Senate President said.

    Akpabio assured the APC governorship candidate in Edo, Senator Monday Okpebholo that the party would work for his victory.

    “Our brother, Senator Monday, you’re not just the hope of Edo but you’re the hope of the APC in the South-South zone. We will support you to succeed.”

    The Senate President foreclosed that there would soon be the second APC governor in the south south region as APC is almost certain of gubernatorial victory.

    “Your Excellency Governor Otu, your days of loneliness are over. Today, we have a governor in Cross River state that is showing direction in terms of performance, it’s not about talk, it’s about what you are able to do. The people will only judge you by what you put on ground,” he said.

  • Edo 2024: Court announces date to deliver judgement on Ighodalo’s candidacy

    Edo 2024: Court announces date to deliver judgement on Ighodalo’s candidacy

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, fixed April 30 for judgment in two separate suits challenging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the party’s governorship candidate for the Edo poll.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after counsel for the parties adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the suits.

    While the first suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024, was filed by Adizetu Umoru, the second suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024, was filed by Moses Alabi and Christopher Oboarer.

    The plaintiffs had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), PDP, Umar Damagu (acting national chairman), Setonji Koshoedo, PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), and its National Executive Committee (NEC) as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.

    INEC had announced that the Edo governorship election will be held on Sept. 21.

    The three plaintiffs, in their separate ex-parte motions dated and filed Feb. 19, specifically sought an interim order of the court restraining the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held on Feb. 4, for the purpose of conducting the PDP’s primary in Edo State, slated for Feb. 22 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.

    Mr Magaji Ibrahim, SAN, who moved the two separate motions, pointed out that the primary election would amount to a nullity if allowed to hold on the grounds that the process which produced the delegates is defective.

    According to Ibrahim, the PDP trampled upon the judgment of the court delivered on Jan. 9 when the acting national secretary of the party announced the information of the ward congresses.

    He recalled that the court, presided over by Justice Ekwo, had, in the Jan. 9 judgment, declared Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP.

    He argued that rather than comply with the judgment, the party went ahead to appoint an acting national secretary in flagrant disobedience of the court.

    It was the claims of the applicants that the action of the acting national secretary amounted to an illegality, and by extension, the product of the ward congresses held on Feb. 4.

    They, therefore, prayed the court to restrain the party and INEC from making use of the list of delegates from the alleged defective congresses.

    Although Justice Ekwo declined to grant the application to stop the poll conduct, the judge ordered the applicants to put the defendants on notice to enable them appear before the court and show cause why the request against them should not be granted.

    Upon resumed hearing of the matter on Thursday, Mathew Burkaa, SAN, who appeared for Umoru, adopted all their processes, including the originating summons dated Feb. 14.

    Burkaa urged the court to dismiss the notice of preliminary objection filed by the defendants and grant their prayers.

    INEC’s lawyer, I.S. Mohammed, PDP’s counsel, Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN; and lawyer who appeared for Damagun and Koshoedo, Kehibde Ofunwumiju, SAN, and Robert Emukpoeruo, who represented the NWC and NEC, urged the court to dismiss the suit

    who said a notice of preliminary objection was filed by the commission, prayed the court to strike out the suit on merit and award substantial cost.

    Also the second suit was equally argued in the same vein.

    Justice Ekwo fixed April 30 for judgement.

    Meanwhile, the judge fixed the third suit filed on behalf of the 378 ad hoc delegates in Edo primary poll against INEC, PDP, national secretary of PDP and the vice chairman, PDP South South (1st to 4th defendants) until May 2 for ruling on motion seeking for a change of counsel for the 4th defendant.