By Victor Ofure Osehobo
The Federal High Court in Abuja has invalidated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election that produced Mr. (or Dr.) Asue Akintunde Ighodalo, the godson of the outgoing PDP governor, as the party’s candidate for the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State. His emergence was the result of a fabricated primary.
Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled that the PDP’s primary, conducted on February 22, failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, the guidelines for the conduct of the poll, and the party’s own constitution. He noted that the PDP’s presented evidence, referred to as Exhibit PDP 1, lacked substantive proof. He emphasized that the plaintiffs had successfully established their case against the defendants through the exhibits tendered.
One particularly interesting point in Justice Ekwo’s ruling was the revelation that the returning officers who prepared the result sheets had fabricated the primary’s outcome. The judge stated that the exclusion of 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, from the primary was in direct violation of legal provisions.
Despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) being named as the first defendant in the case, the commission did not actively participate in the proceedings beyond filing a memorandum of appearance. Justice Ekwo noted with regret that INEC’s counsel merely indicated that the commission would abide by the court’s decision without presenting any process in the case.
The case, brought before the court by three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates on behalf of 378 others, sought judicial intervention to prevent the exclusion of their names from participating in the primary. The delegates, represented by Hon. Kelvin Mohammed, Mr. Gabriel Okoduwa, and Mr. Ederaho Osagie, argued that their exclusion was unjust and contrary to the interests of justice.
The judgment has invalidated Mr. Ighodalo’s candidacy, meaning the PDP will not be on the ballot come September. The primary that was fabricated by the PDP was devoid of fairness and transparency in the party’s internal electoral process. This is what happens when a godfather is desperate to install his godson as his successor.
According to INEC, the deadline for political parties to substitute their candidates for the Edo State governorship election was April 15, 2024. The final list of 17 candidates, 16 males and 1 female, was published by INEC on April 22, 2024. However, INEC will be obliged to update the list of candidates to 16 without the PDP.
For us in the All Progressives Congress (APC), our doors are wide open for people like Asue Akintunde Ighodalo to come in. Our party’s Director of Publicity Committee, Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo JP, has said Ighodalo can join forces with our candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to deliver Edo State from his godfather’s “self-serving governance.”
Mr. Ighodalo is used to lateness. He joined the ill-fated PDP late and had no voter’s card at the time. He got one recently. The APC is ready and will issue him a membership card as soon as he comes.
This court ruling underscores the judiciary’s role in upholding democratic principles and ensuring that electoral processes are conducted fairly and transparently. Asue Akintunde Ighodalo is welcome to join APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo to end the eight locust years of PDP misgovernance with programs and policies that emphasize food security, healthcare, and economic prosperity for all Edo people. He can join us today.