The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reaffirmed the nomination of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as Edo State governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP). The election holds on 21 September.
In a unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Usman Alhaji Musale, the Appeal Court held that the delegates, who sought to nullify the PDP governorship primary, lacked locus and the trial court therefore had no jurisdiction to nullify the outcome of the election process.
The appellate court further stated that, under Section 84 (14) of the Electoral Act, it is only aspirants that can challenge a primary election. Ad hoc delegates, the court held, are not aspirants and therefore do not have the locus to sue as the matter is an internal affairs of the party.
“They are delegates and not aspirants. Delegates do not have any locus to challenge the process of the primary election”, the Court held
Consequently, the Appellant court upheld that the 22 February primary of the PDP in Edo State, which produced Ighodalo as governorship candidate in 21 September election.
