There is growing anxiety in the camp of the People’s Democratic Party in Edo State following a judgment by a federal high court in Abuja nullifying the candidature of its flag bearer, Asue Ighodalo, for alleged non-compliance with the guidelines for the party primaries and the party’s constitution.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja gave the ruling on Thursday in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, filed by some delegates led by Kelvin Mohammed.

The judge ruled that the PDP’s primary election in the state on February 22 did not comply with the requirements of the Electoral Act 2022, electoral guidelines, or the party’s Constitution because the 378 delegates were not allowed to participate.

The plaintiffs in the matter also argued before the court that the primary election excluded the legitimate delegates who should have voted in the election, instead, the returning officer for the exercise only manufactured the outcome of the election.

This judgment is coming barely two months before the election, which will be held on September 21st, 2024, raising hairs about the next actions of the party, especially as the PDP flagbearer has already begun some campaign activities within the state, a development that puts the party in a frenzy mood.

Following the court declaration, NDR went to the party secretariat and the PDP candidate’s campaign office to gauge the mood of the party, and there was a noticeable sense of uncertainty as party stakeholders gathered to hold an emergency closed-door meeting to discuss the next steps.

Speaking with NDR, one of the party leaders who spoke under anonymity said the judgment has brought confusion into the party as the party members were uncertain about how the campaign trail would go as they did not know the next line of action.

He also noted that even though the candidate has tried to douse the anxiety through the campaign team, the development has posed a threat to what the political party can do to beat the opposition as it stands.

However, in his conversation with our reporter, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, the Director General of the Asue Ighodalo Campaign team, stated that the judgment would not reduce the campaign activities organized by his principal, stating that the court ruling was a mischievous antic to stall the party from performing its activities.

Mr. Iduoriyekemwen also admitted that the judgment may create uncertainty in the state as it is coming at a crucial time in their campaign activities, he, however, stated that the judgment would

“There is nothing to worry about in the judgment, we are confident that this new decision will not survive the test of appeal, and all necessary steps in that regard are already being actively pursued.

“Furthermore, it must be noted that the claim in question and the judgment that arose therefrom did not, in any shape or form, invalidate or even challenge the outcome of party primaries that produced the candidate of the PDP for the forthcoming elections.

“It does not stop us from campaigning, we will continue our campaign, and we need to assure our members that there is nothing in it. As a law-abiding political party, we have seen the judgment, and every judgment, no matter how it can be challenged before the Supreme Court, Of course, we will appeal the judgment to the higher court to set it aside, and we are very confident that there are judicial precedents that we can refer to win the case.

“We are not deterred at all, we know the judgment was to create uncertainties in the minds of our members, but we know where we are going”, he said.

Asue Ighodalo is one of the major candidates in the coming off-cycle gubernatorial election in Edo State. His emergence as the flagbearer of the People’s Democratic Party was in tandem with the desire of the incumbent state governor, Godwin Obaseki.

The race of who will become the state governors in the next four years has been an activity of deliberation among political pundits, but the current judgment indicates that the PDP does not have a candidate for the coming election.

PDP Insits Ighodalo remains Party Candidate

However, the Peoples Democratic Party, in a statement by its Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, insisted that Asue Ighodalo is its candidate for the election, stating that “Ighodalo’s candidature remains intact”. The party stated, “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.

“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 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja did not in any way affect the candidature of Dr. Asue Ighodalo. We urge our teeming loyal supporters to remain calm and resolute, as there is no cause for alarm.”

In response to the court ruling, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity of its Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, urged the PDP candidate to work with its candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to deliver Edo State.

“Earlier today, a Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Ekwo, nullified the Edo PDP governorship primary held on February 22nd, 2024 by Governor Godwin Obaseki’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

“The news of the disqualification of Mr. Asue Ighodalo as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate has been received by the Edo people as relief from imposition of forgery and the continuation of self-serving governance in our state.

“APC as a progressive party, is calling on Mr. Ighodalo to join hands with Senator Monday Okpebholo to retake the state and reset it for prosperity.

“What is more important at this point is the interest of Edo people, who are eagerly waiting for solutions that will ensure food security, accessible, affordable healthcare, and a thriving economy.”