A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Thursday, restrained the Peoples Democratic (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting any other list of ad-hoc delegates from any other delegates election except the one monitored by by INEC in the Edo state PDP.
In a judgment on Thursday, the trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the ad-hoc delegates’ election monitored by INEC was the authentic one that should be used in all PDP further elections both in state and national levels.
The plaintiffs, Monday Iyore Osagie, Reuben Ikponwman Ekhosueni, Madalene Omosigho Osawe and Imarhiagbe Destiny Oghogho, on behalf of themselves and 571 others, had sought court injunction to stop the PDP, Dr Iyorcha Ayu, Umar Bature, INEC and others as 1st to 5th defendants from accepting any other lists of ad-hoc delegates outside their names.
The ad-hoc delegates who brought the motion are believed to be aligned with the faction led by the National Vice Chairman, South-South, Chief Dan Orbih, who is in control of the mainstream of the party in Edo state.
The other faction is led by Edo state Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki.
Justice Ekwo held: “A declaration is hereby made that the plaintiffs’ election as the ad-hoc delegates of the 1st from the wards’ congresses that the PDP conducted in the 192 wards converting the 18 local government areas of Edo state on the 30the day of April 2022 is in compliance with Article 15(2)(e) of the 1 defendant’s constitution (as amended 2017) , Article 1(b)(I) of Part 1 (Page 5) and Article 4(xii) of Part 11 (Page 9) of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections of 13th March , 2022 of the 1st defendant.”
The court further declared that the 1st to the 4th defendants were bound by the PDD constitution by presenting only persons duly elected at the wards congress as adhoc delegates.
The court also stated that only the plaintiffs’ and other 571 ad-hoc delegatates of 3 delegates per ward elected at the wards’ congresses of the 1st defendant (PDP) at the 192 wards headquarters covering the 18 LGAs in the state and witnessed by the officials of INEC are the authentic ad-hoc delegates for its primary election in Edo state.
The court therefore restrained the 1st to 4th defendants or their agents, officers from using any other delegates or recognising for the purpose of voting or electing the local government area national delegates, House of Representatives, candidates, House of Assembly candidates, senatorial candidates of the 1st defendant in Edo state other than the plaintiffs’ and other 571 adhoc delegates.
The court directed the defendants to allow the ad-hoc delegates participate fully and vote at the forth coming delegates, primary election of the 1st defendant.
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