Court Voids PDP’s Ighodalo’s Candidacy over Invalid Primaries In a significant development, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the candidacy of Omosede Ighodalo as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2023 House of Representatives election in Edo State. The court presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that the primary election conducted by the PDP on May 22, 2022, was invalid due to irregularities and substantial non-compliance with the party’s guidelines and the Electoral Act. The PDP had declared Ighodalo the winner of the primary election, defeating two other contestants, Philip Shaibu and Henry Tenebe. However, Shaibu and Tenebe challenged the outcome of the primary, alleging several electoral malpractices. In his judgment, Justice Nwite agreed with the petitioners, stating that the PDP failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act and its own guidelines for the conduct of primaries. The court held that there were inconsistencies in the list of delegates, use of non-accredited voters, and other irregularities that rendered the primary election invalid. The court also dismissed the PDP’s argument that the petitioners did not provide adequate evidence to support their claims. Justice Nwite ruled that the petitioners had presented sufficient evidence to prove their allegations and that the PDP failed to provide a reasonable defense. The nullification of Ighodalo’s candidacy is a major setback for the PDP in Edo State. It raises questions about the integrity of the party’s primary elections and the readiness of the party to compete fairly in the upcoming elections. Meanwhile, the PDP has expressed disappointment over the court’s ruling and is considering appealing the decision. The party’s spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, stated that the PDP believes the primary election was conducted in a transparent and credible manner. The court’s decision has sent a strong message that the electoral process must be fair and transparent. It is a reminder to political parties and candidates that they cannot manipulate the system to their advantage.The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, has ruled against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election that selected Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate for the Edo State gubernatorial election on September 21.The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, has ruled against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election that selected Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate for the Edo State gubernatorial election on September 21. The court found that the primary election held on February 22 violated the provisions of the Electoral Act (2022), the electoral guidelines, and the party’s constitution. Justice Ekwo dismissed the evidence presented by the PDP as insufficient and relied on exhibits provided by the plaintiffs to support their claims. The plaintiffs, who were 381 delegates excluded from the primary, successfully argued that their exclusion was unlawful. Justice Ekwo condemned the absence of proper documentation from the returning officers, accusing them of fabricating the election results. The court also criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for failing to file any proceedings despite entering an appearance. The judge concluded that the plaintiffs had a strong case and granted their reliefs. The plaintiffs had sought to prevent the defendants from excluding them from the primary and to show cause why their demands should not be met. The defendants included INEC, the PDP, its national secretary, and the vice chairman for South-South. The court’s decision sets aside the PDP’s primary election and casts uncertainty over the party’s candidate in the upcoming gubernatorial election.Months after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) submitted its list of candidates for the 2023 general elections, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has invalidated the candidacy of Valentine Ighodalo for the Warri North Federal Constituency seat in Delta State. According to the court ruling, the PDP failed to conduct a valid primary election in accordance with the Electoral Act and the party’s guidelines, leading to Ighodalo’s disqualification. The suit challenging Ighodalo’s candidacy was filed by Austin Ufuoma, who had also contested in the primary. Ufuoma alleged irregularities in the conduct of the primary, including non-compliance with the guidelines and manipulation of results. In its judgment, the court agreed with Ufuoma’s arguments and declared that the primary election was invalid. Consequently, the court ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh primary within 14 days. Following the court ruling, Ufuoma expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that justice had prevailed. He urged the PDP to conduct a fair and transparent primary election to ensure that the rightful candidate emerges. The PDP has yet to issue an official response to the court ruling. However, sources within the party indicate that the leadership is considering appealing the judgment.