The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reaffirmed Dr. Asue Ighodalo’s nomination as the Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Musali JCA in the suit marked CA/ABJ/CV/764/2024, the court ruled that the delegates who sought to nullify the PDP primaries lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to do so, and therefore, the trial court had no jurisdiction to invalidate the primaries.
The appellate court further clarified that under Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act, only aspirants have the right to challenge a primary election.
It also noted that Ad hoc delegates are not considered aspirants and thus do not have the locus to sue, as the matter falls under the internal affairs of the PDP.
The court concluded, “They are delegates and not aspirants. Delegates do not have any locus to challenge the process of the primary election.”
As a result, the appellate court upheld the February 22 primaries of the PDP in Edo, which produced Ighodalo as the party’s governorship candidate for the forthcoming September 21st election in the state.