From left: Governors Bala Mohammed, Ifeanyi Okowa, Darius Ishaku, Samuel Ortom, Godwin Obaseki and Dan Orbih.
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo state, has lauded the judgment of the Supreme Court, which recognised candidates of the Governor Godwin Obaseki faction as constituting the authentic list of national and state assemblies’ candidates for the February 25 election.
With the judgment delivered by the apex court on Wednesday, the case has become res judicata with a clear end to further appeal.
The judgment has now laid to rest the weeks and months of litigation and contestation between the factions on the sensitive issue of control and validation of candidates for this month’s polls.
But whether the outcome of the litigation will birth peace and harmony in the party remains to be seen given the amount of bile and animosity that had been invested in the battle for the soul of the party.
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Whereas, it is common knowledge that the Dan Orbih faction owned the party from the outset of its formation, with Obaseki coming into the party in 2020 for the purpose of contesting the governorship poll on its platform, the subsequent decision by Obaseki to use the powers of his office as governor to hijack and appropriate the structures of the party had been at the roots of the resistance by the Orbih faction in the last two years or thereabouts.
But the Obaseki faction is trying to cajole the Orbih faction to join hands with the party to prosecute the forthcoming national and state assemblies polls.
After the Supreme Court judgment on Wednesday, Edo state chairman of the PDP, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, reacted cautiously in a chat with newsmen, saying the Supreme Court judgment was a collective victory for the PDP in Edo.
He said “the journey to the Supreme Court by brothers, sisters and friends of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State is not as a result of crisis but a quest by active interests to test the strength of law and our democracy.
“The result of the judgment has now helped to grow our democracy and will subsequently become a reference as well as a guide to all political parties and politicians alike.”
Aziegbemi said: “we have learnt our collective lessons and more propelled to work as a team and a strong party. I want to say categorically that there was never a crisis in the party but mere interpretation of certain modalities and procedures which has become clearer to all of us now.
“I want to appreciate all members of the PDP Nationwide and most importantly in Edo state for their understanding during the period. I am calling on our members to close ranks. This call is now mandatory. The party belongs to all of us and we are all co-stakeholders in the success of the party.
“I call on all of us to queue behind our Leader, Governor Godwin Obaseki who has in just 2 years in the PDP has demonstrated capacity to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. I must mention some of the monumental projects:
● The 95MW Ossiomo PPP project that is powering many government offices and homes
● The 60,000 barrels per day modular refinery in Ologbo that is functioning
● The Civil service reform adjudged to be the best in Nigeria
● The reforms in the education sector through the Edo Best programme.
● The increase in minimum wage-the only State in Nigeria that has increased minimum wage and the prompt payment of salaries unfailingly on the 26th of every month
● Edo Tech Park.
● The Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub
● Efficient security architecture, which has made Edo State the only State in the country that is 100% covered in terms of security.
” Let us all now rededicate ourselves to the growth and victory of the party in the forthcoming elections. We have to work extra hard to deliver ALL our candidates. That is what we do in PDP.
“I am aware that some of my brothers and sisters in the party who may have had divergent views to the issues may have also been critical to certain positions I may have taken in the past few months. To these set of people, I tender my unreserved apologies as I may have slightly injured them in the course of discharging my duties as the State Chairman.
“In all, let us forge ahead together with confidence and deliver all our candidates on February 25th and 11th March 2023.That has now become a sacred duty. Our members and indeed Edolites expect nothing less from us.”
The Supreme Court had declared the candidates who emerged from the primaries conducted by the Gov Godwin Obaseki-led faction of the PDP in Edo as the authentic representatives of the party.
This judgment delivered by Justice Centus Nweze brings to an end the long-drawn legal battle to decide which of the two factions is in control of the state chapter of the party.
Delivering the judgment in the appeal filed by Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama and others against Mr Mathew Iduoriyekemwen and others, the apex court held that the case of the appellant was faulty as it did not emanate from the judgment of the appellate court.
The court in its judgment dismissed the appeal on the grounds that it was incompetent.
The judgment set aside the judgment of the Appeal Court which was in favour of candidates belonging to the Legacy Group of the PDP in Edo State led by the National Vice Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih.
The judge held that an appeal must be based on issues contended at the lower court to qualify for review.
“Any ground of appeal that does not challenge issues raised at the lower court is incompetent. I enter judgment in favour of the respondents “, the apex court held.
The judgment which arose from a consolidation of all cases relating to the leadership tussle has put to rest anxiety as to the right persons to represent the party in the elections.
The battle for control of the PDP apparatus in Edo state between Obaseki and Orbih took a different dimension when the two groups presented two different lists of aspirants to INEC following parallel primaries conducted by the two factions.
The crux of the matter is who has the power the primary election for the selection of party flag bearers for the National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections slated for February 25 and March 11, this year.
Wednesday’s unanimous decision by the supreme court, therefore, means the candidates who emerged from the ward up to the national primaries conducted by the Obaseki faction of the Edo PDP will be fielded for elective positions.
Both Obaseki and a National Vice Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orhbi have been locked in a leadership battle for the soul of the party in Edo State.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had in May last year recognized orbih’s faction as the authentic candidates, another in Benin City, gave recognition to Obaseki’s faction.
Both also appealed the judgment of the trial court entered against them at the Court of Appeal.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the judgment was delivered, Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of the state who was in court to witness the proceedings expressed joy that the matter has been finally put to rest.
He called on all PDP members to close ranks to deliver for the party in all the elections, stating that there was no winner or loser as the victory was for the PDP.
Shuaibu urged aggrieved parties to embrace peace said that the umbrella is now widen to accommodate all.
NAN reports that a Federal High Court in Benin-city, Edo had ordered INEC to recognise and publish the names of candidates produced by Obaseki’s faction as PDP’s candidates in the 2023 elections.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, in a related suit ordered INEC to recognise the candidates of Chief Dan Orbih faction as authentic candidates of the PDP for the forthcoming elections.
The parties in their various suits had asked the court for an order compelling INEC, to publish their names as the validly elected candidates of the Edo State PDP for the 2023 general election.
In his judgment, Justice S. M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Benin relying on past decisions by the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, held that only the National Working Committee (NWC) of a political party has the power to conduct party primaries.
“There is nothing before the court to show that the primaries in which the fourth to 39th defendants participated was conducted by the National Working Committee of the PDP. Rather, their primaries were conducted by the Edo State chapter of the PDP,” the judge held.
The Judge further held: “In my view, the power of INEC under Section 84 of the Electoral Act is limited to monitoring of party primary elections and does not extend to preparing or declaring the results of that election. This remains the law.
“In light of the foregoing, the fourth defendant, INEC, cannot rely on results prepared by the first defendant, Edo State PDP.”
Dissatisfied, the Orbih’s faction appealed the judgment up to the Supreme Court, where judgment was today entered against them.
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