The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Campaign Council for the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election has expressed its satisfaction with the Court of Appeal’s Monday judgment, which upheld the candidacy of Asue Ighodalo, the party’s flag bearer.
Pastor Olu Martin, Deputy Director-General of Media and Publicity for the Asue-Ogie Campaign Management Council, reacted to the ruling in Benin City, Edo State capital, highlighting the party’s contentment that the judiciary has prevented any political party, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC), from gaining power through unconventional means.
Martin commended the judiciary for dismissing attempts by the APC to undermine the PDP’s candidate. He criticized the initial judgment of Justice Iyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which had questioned Ighodalo’s candidacy due to alleged issues with the party’s primary process. Martin described that judgment as an “academic exercise” that did not impact the legitimacy of the PDP’s primary or its candidate.
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He emphasized that the Court of Appeal’s decision reaffirms the principle that parties not involved in the primary process have no standing to challenge it. He also criticized the APC for lacking a substantive manifesto and relying on attempts to undermine their opponents rather than engaging in constructive campaigning.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling overturned Justice Ekwo’s July 4, 2024, judgment, which had faulted Ighodalo’s emergence due to claims that the party excluded 381 ad-hoc delegates from the primary. The appellate court found that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over the matter and that the PDP’s process for selecting its candidate was not subject to interference.
Martin hailed the appellate court’s decision as a victory for democracy and hoped that the APC and its candidate would now focus on developing a manifesto and addressing the real issues facing the state.