The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja on Monday, set aside a judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court that ordered the People’s Democratic Party to allow the participation of the excluded 378 ad-hoc delegates in its primary election.
While delivering judgment in a suit brought before the lower court by the aggrieved 378 ad-hoc delegates, Justice Ekwo held that the exclusion of the plaintiffs in the February 22 Edo State PDP primary election for the selection of its candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in the state was against the party’s constitution and ordered their inclusion in the primary election.
However, a three-man panel of the appellate court set aside Justice Ekwo’s judgment of July 4, 2024, on the grounds that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit of the aggrieved delegates in the first place.
The panel held that the plaintiffs who instituted the suit lacked the necessary legal rights to initiate the suit since they were not aspirants seeking political office.
“It is only an aspirant that can challenge the primary election of a political party,” the panel declared.
The Court of Appeal, in agreement with the submission of PDP, who had appealed the judgment of the lower court in a 25-ground appeal, argued that the issue of primary is an internal matter within the political party and, as such, outside the jurisdiction of any court, declared that a primary election is an internal affair of any political party; hence the grievances of the plaintiffs cannot be entertained by any court, as they are not contesting political office but selected to only participate in the selection of a candidate for the party.
Recall that three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates, Kelvin Mohammed, Gabriel Okoduwa, and Ederaho Osagie, had sued the PDP on behalf of themselves and 378 other delegates over their exclusion in the February 22 primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the candidate to represent PDP in the forthcoming September 21 gubernatorial election in the state.
They had asked the court to determine, among other things, whether their exclusion from the said primary was not in breach of the party’s constitution. They also urged the court to order the PDP to allow their participation in the poll if the questions raised for determination were in their favour.
Justice Ekwo, delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, said the primary failed to comply with Sections 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the guidelines for the conduct of the poll, and Article 50(3) of the party’s constitution.
He held that the PDP must comply with its constitution, maintaining that parties are bound by the Constitution of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, and their own constitution and guidelines.
He held that where a party acts contrary to the provisions of the law and the guidelines that they have enacted for themselves, such actions will be declared invalid.
The court held that the case of the plaintiffs merited justice and ordered the PDP not to exclude them from the February 22 primary.
“Consequently, I find that the case of the plaintiffs succeeds on the merit upon a preponderance of evidence as required by law.
“A declaration is hereby made that by virtue of the provisions of Article 50 (3) of the Constitution of the 2nd defendant (as amended in 2017), the plaintiffs, together with the other lawfully elected delegates, whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L herein, are the lawfully elected Ward Congress Delegates in their respective wards and by virtue of which the defendants cannot exclude them from participating as 3 Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates at the governorship primary election of Edo State slated for the 22 of February 2024 or any other date.
“An order is hereby made directing the defendants who are bound by the provisions of Section 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Article 50 (3) of the 2nd defendant’s constitution (as amended in 2017) to abide by the outcome of the 3 Ad-Hoc Delegates Ward Congress of February 4, 2024, at which the plaintiffs and the other 378 delegates, whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L were elected and to allow the plaintiffs and the 375 other lawfully elected delegates participate in the primary election of February 22, 2024.
“An order of Mandatory Injunction is hereby made restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd defendants from unlawfully excluding the plaintiffs and the other lawfully elected delegates whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L herein, from participating as 3 Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates in the governorship election primaries of the 2nd defendant slated for the 22nd of February, 2024 or any other date,” Justice Ekwo held.
Meanwhile, the PDP has praised the judgement of the Court of Appeal which on Monday in a unanimous ruling re-affirmed the nomination of Ighodalo as the candidate of the PDP in the September 21, 2024 Edo State Governorship election.
A statement issued by Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary, noted that the judgement by the Court of Appeal “is another momentous victory for democracy and the Rule of Law against the All Progressives Congress (APC) anti-democratic forces which sought to undermine and trample on the Will of the people of Edo State as symbolized in the candidature of Dr. Asue Ighodalo.”
It added: “The Appeal Court judgement again validates the credibility of the PDP nomination process which produced Dr. Asue Ighodalo as its candidate.
“This effectively shut the mouths of purveyors of lies and falsehood in the APC who are confused and frustrated by Dr. Asue Ighodalo’s soaring popularity and acceptance by the people of Edo State including key APC members who are publicly declaring support for the PDP candidate
“The spontaneous jubilation across Edo State at the news of the judgement is a resounding testament of the overwhelming support of the majority of the people in the state which further signposts the forthcoming sweeping victory by Dr. Asue Ighodalo whose personality and manifesto embody the collective vision and aspiration of the people of Edo State.
“The APC, its candidate, Monday Okpebholo and his propaganda team, led by Adams Oshiomhole should therefore read the handwriting on the wall and come to terms with the crushing defeat that awaits them at the poll.
“The APC should know that the people of Edo State have made up their minds on Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the next governor of their state and cannot be swayed by the propaganda, lies, manipulations by the APC whose candidate is practically empty, purposeless, uninspiring and has nothing to offer to Edo State.”
