Edo Guber Election: Confusion As Court Sacks PDP Candidate, Ighodalo, Nullifies Primary Election

From Imafidon OSAZUA (Benin)

Barley two months to Edo State governorship election, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo has sacked Akintunde Ighodalo as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Edo.

Justice Ekwo also nullified the PDP primaries held in February 2024 on the grounds of non-compliance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the electoral acts 2022 as amended.

Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Phillip Shaibu, and a former chairman of the APC in Edo State, Barr. Anslem Ojezua, along with other dissatisfied aspirants are the plaintiffs in the matter.

They alleged that 378 delegates were unjustly disenfranchised from participating in the Edo primaries that produced Akintunde as PDP candidate.

Justice Ekwo agreed with the pleas of the plaintiffs granting their prayer and subsequently annulling the PDP primary.

Justice Ekwo faulted the respondents for non compliance with the rule of law, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Acts 2022 as Amended as well as the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Akintunde Ighodalo a crony of Obaseki was ferried down from Lagos and imposed on Edo PDP, an action that resulted to cracks and bickerings in the Edo State PDP.

Phillip Shaibu, who was impeached in a commando manner, have vowed repeatedly that Akintunde Ighodalo will not be on the ballot.