The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Saturday stated that the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement of Federal High Court in Abuja, does not invalidate the primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the Governorship candidate of the Party in the forthcoming election.
The party asserted that the judgement did not make any pronouncement on the validity or otherwise of the candidature of Asuen Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, as against media reports which misled the public on the validity of the primary election.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party explained that the CTC document puts to rest the confusion that had emanated from the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Inyany Ekwo, clearing all misinterpretations of the ruling.
According to the post on Saturday, PDP said in the ruling as seen from the CTC document, the judge declared that “the Plaintiffs and the other 378 delegates, whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L were elected and to allow the Plaintiffs and the 375 other lawfully elected delegates participate in the primary election of February 22, 2024.”
, “A Declaration is hereby made that by virtue of the provisions of Article 50 (3) of the Constitution of the 2nd Defendant (as amended in 2017), the Plaintiffs together with the other lawfully elected delegates, whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L herein, are the lawfully elected Ward Congress Delegates in their respective wards and by virtue of which the Defendants cannot exclude them from participating as 3 Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates at the Governorship primary election of Edo State slated for the 22nd of February, 2024 or any other date.”
He continued: “An Order is hereby made directing the Defendants who are bound by the provisions of Section 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Article 50 (3) of the 2nd Defendant’s Constitution (as amended in 2017) to abide by the outcome of the 3 Ad-Hoc Delegates Ward Congress of February 4, 2024, at which the Plaintiffs and the other 378 delegates, whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L were elected and to allow the Plaintiffs and the 375 other lawfully elected delegates participate in the primary election of February 22, 2024.
The judge added: “An Order of Mandatory BID 8A to 8L herein, from participating as 3 Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates in the Governorship election primaries of the 2nd Defendant slated for the 22nd of February, 2024 or any other date.”