The nomination of Asue Ighodalo as the 2024 gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, has been upheld by the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja.
In a ruling by Justice Musali JCA, in the suit marked CA/ABJ/CV/764/2024, the court held that the delegates who sought to nullify the PDP primaries lacked legal standing.
According to the Appeal Court, Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act, did not give delegates to a primary election the legal right to challenge the outcome as it concerns the elected candidate.
Justice Musali explained that only aspirants who contested the primary election with the candidate, Ighodalo, have the legal stand to challenge the outcome of the primary election.
“They are delegates and not aspirants. Delegates do not have any locus to challenge the process of the primary election,” Justice Musali held.
Asue Ighodalo remains the elected candidate in line with the February 22 primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming September 21st election in the state.
As of the time of filing this report, the PDP Edo State chapter and the governorship candidate have yet to react to the ruling, but a member of the Asue Ighodalo campaign council, Anthony Ehilebo, on his X handle, has hailed the victory.
As the days for the Edo State governorship election draw closer, the three major candidates, Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asue Ighodalo of the PDP and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party, have intensified efforts to woo the voters.
