The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has urged the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja to declare the governorship indirect primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on February 22, which produced Asue Igbodalo at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, as invalid and unlawful.

Shaibu, represented by his lead counsel, Doyin Awoyale, SAN, is also seeking a court order for PDP to conduct a fresh primary election.

He also urged the presiding judge to instruct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, as the PDP’s standard bearer in Edo for the crucial poll scheduled for September 21.

He asked the court to nullify the PDP’s “purported” Edo governorship primary election and withdraw forthwith, the certificate of return issued to Ighodalo, stating that the factional shadow poll was conducted, contrary to the provisions of PDP’s constitution and the Electoral Act

Edo deputy governor, in the suit with reference number: FHC/ABJ/CS/308/2024, sought an order to restrain Ighodalo from parading himself as the duly-nominated governorship candidate of PDP in Edo, with the party’s National Vice Chairman, Southsouth, Chief Dan Orbih, as the third defendant in the suit.

The originating summons, as obtained in Benin by our reporter, read: “An order of injunction restraining the 1st defendant (INEC) from accepting and/or recognising the name of the 4th defendant (Ighodalo) as the governorship candidate of the 2nd defendant (PDP) in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, scheduled to be conducted by the 1st defendant on the 21 of September 2024.

He asked for “An order of this honourable court restraining the defendants, by themselves and/agents, representatives, organs, chapters, etc. from tampering with and/or discarding the delegates lists that emerged from the 2nd defendant’s congresses of 4th February 2024 and 10th February 2024, conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the 2nd defendant.

And, “an order of this honourable court, mandating the 2nd defendant to conduct a fresh governorship primary election for the nomination of the governorship candidate for the 2nd defendant in the 2024 Edo governorship election.”

Edo deputy governor also sought these reliefs: “A declaration that upon a proper construction of the provisions of Sections 84 (1), (5B) & (13) of the Electoral Act, 2022; Article 15 (2) of the 2nd defendant’s Constitution; Part 1 Paragraph 1 (A), (B) and Part 1 Paragraph 1 (1) of the 2nd defendant’s electoral guidelines for governorship primary election, it is only ad hoc delegates that emerge from a special local government area congress and special ward congresses conducted by the 2nd defendant’s National Working Committee (NWC) that are eligible to vote in the Edo State PDP Governorship Primary Election, held on the 22nd February, 2024.

“A declaration that upon a proper construction of the provisions of Sections 84(1), (5B), (8) and (13) of the Electoral Act 2022; Articles 15(2), 50 (1), (2B) of the 2nd defendant’s Constitution; Part 1 Paragraph 1 (A), (B) and Part 1 Paragraph 1 (1) of the 2nd defendant’s guidelines for governorship primary election, the 2nd defendant cannot alter, modify, amend, exclude or substitute the list of ad hoc delegates from a special local government area congress and special ward congresses conducted by the 2nd defendant’s National Working Committee (NWC) who emerged as delegates for the purpose of nominating the Edo State PDP governorship candidate in the forthcoming Edo State governorship election scheduled for the 21 of September, 2024.

“A declaration that upon a proper construction of the provisions of Sections 84 (1), (2), (5B) and 13 of the Electoral Act, 2022; Articles 15 (2), 50 (1), (2B) of the 2nd defendant’s Constitution; Part 1 Paragraph 1 (A), (B) and Part 1 Paragraph 1 (1) of the 2nd defendant’s guidelines for governorship primary election, the purported governorship primary election conducted by the 2nd defendant at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin-City on the 22nd of February, 2024, from where the 4th defendant purportedly emerged as the governorship candidate of the 2nd defendant, is null and void.

“A declaration that the 1st defendant is not entitled to accept or recognise the 4th defendant as the duly-nominated governorship candidate of the 2nd defendant in Edo State for the 21st of September, 2024 governorship election, having emerged from invalid, unlawful and illegal primaries conducted, contrary to Sections 84(1), (5B), (8) and (13) of the Electoral Act 2022; Articles 15(2), 50 (1), (2B) of the 2nd defendant’s Constitution; Part 1 Paragraph 1 (A), (B) and Part 1 Paragraph 1 (1) of the 2nd defendant’s guidelines for governorship primary election.”

Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, is backing Ighodalo, to succeed him on November 12 this year.

However, Shaibu emerged as the governorship candidate on the same February 22 at a parallel primary election held at his official residence on Commercial Avenue, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin. (The Nation)

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