A Federal High Court, Abuja has voided the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as a candidate in the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo said the primaries failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, guidelines for the conduct of the poll, and the party’s constitution.
Justice Ekwo, who said the first Exhibit 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 simply unacceptable and against the provisions of the law.
Justice Ekwo held that though the Independent National Electoral Commission, 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 said.
NAN reports that the 381 delegates are those loyal to Philip Shaibu, the impeached Deputy Governor of the state.
