The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgement that ordered the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to allow 381 ad-hoc delegates to participate in its February 22 primary election in Edo State.
The primary election produced Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate for the September 21 governorship election.
The appellate court set aside the judgement, citing lack of jurisdiction by the trial court. It held that the court cannot interfere with how the PDP selects its candidate and that political parties are like clubs, with members bound by their rules.
The court also stated that candidates who didn’t participate in an election lack the right to challenge its outcome, and therefore, the ad-hoc delegates lack the locus to challenge the PDP primary election outcome.
This decision overturns the earlier judgement by Justice Inyang Ekwo, which voided the PDP governorship election in Edo State due to the exclusion of 378 delegates.
The appeal court’s ruling is a significant development in the ongoing political landscape in Edo State.
