The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a strong statement reaffirming Asue Ighodalo as its candidate for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election, dismissing media reports of a recent ruling by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The statement added that “the Court is not a Father Christmas,” implying that judicial decisions cannot grant wishes outside the scope of legal claims.
In a press release signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party said the Federal High Court did not issue any order nullifying Ighodalo’s primary election victory.
The statement emphasised that the primary election process, which declared Dr. Ighodalo as the party’s flagbearer, adhered strictly to the PDP’s constitutional guidelines, the Electoral Act of 2022, and the Nigerian Constitution.
According to the PDP, the primaries were conducted transparently at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, with full accreditation of delegates, observed by officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies.
He said, “Dr. Asue Ighodalo remains validly in the race, contrary to erroneous interpretative media reports of the ruling by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“The PDP states that the Court did not make any Order nullifying the Primary election of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the Party’s candidate for the Edo State Governorship election as there are no grounds whatsoever for such.
“The Party affirms that the Congresses and subsequent Governorship Primary that produced Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the winner and Party’s flagbearer were duly and legally conducted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Constitution and Electoral Guidelines of the PDP, the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“The PDP maintains that no eligible delegate was excluded from participating in the Primary election which accreditation, polling, counting of ballot, collation and declaration of results were publicly conducted, monitored by officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City which exercise was also duly broadcasted live on national TV stations and multiple Social Media platforms.”
The party further argued that the plaintiffs challenging the primary election outcome lacked the legal standing to do so, as they were not aspirants in the exercise, citing Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Highlighting the specifics of the court case, the PDP noted that the relief sought by the plaintiffs did not include the disqualification or nullification of Ighodalo’s victory in the primary election.
The statement says, “Moreover, the PDP holds that pursuant to the provisions of Section 84 (14) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the case is even of no moment as the plaintiffs have no locus to question the outcome of the Primary election not being aspirants in the exercise.
Additionally, it must be noted that the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs do not include the disqualification and/or nullification of the Primary election of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the winner of the Edo State Governorship Primary election of the PDP.
The Court is not a Father Christmas. The PDP urges the public especially the people of Edo State to disregard the report and remain focused on their solidarity and support for the PDP and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.”
The PDP urged the public, especially the residents of Edo State, to disregard what it described as erroneous media reports and maintain their support for Ighodalo and the party.
