The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says its candidate in the Sept. 21 Edo governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, remains validly in the race.

The party’s national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba stated this on Thursday in Abuja, in a statement in reaction to the ruling by the Federal High Court, Abuja on the matter.

Mr Ologunagba said that the party’s primary election that produced Mr Ighodalo followed due process and no eligible delegate was excluded.

Mr Ologunagba said that the court did not make any order nullifying the primary election of Mr Ighodalo as the party’s candidate for the Edo, as there were no grounds whatsoever for such.

He said that the congresses and subsequent primary that produced Mr Ighodalo as the winner and PDP candidate were duly and legally conducted.

He added that it was conducted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Constitution and Electoral Guidelines of the PDP, the Electoral Act, 2022 and Nigeria Constitution, 1999 (as amended).

“The PDP maintains that no eligible delegate was excluded from participating in the Primary election in which accreditation, polling, counting of ballot, collation and declaration of results were publicly conducted.

“The process was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

“The exercise was also duly broadcast live on national television stations and multiple social media platforms.

“Moreover, the PDP holds that pursuant to the provisions of Section 84 (14) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the case is even of no moment as the plaintiffs have no locus to question the outcome of the primary election not being aspirants in the exercise.

“Additionally, it must be noted that the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs do not include the disqualification and/or nullification of the primary election of Ighodalo as the winner of the Edo governorship primary election of the PDP.

“The Court is not a Father Christmas,” he said.

Mr Ologunagba urged the public, especially the people of Edo to disregard the report and remain focused on their solidarity and support for the PDP and its candidate, Mr Ighodalo.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, had earlier declared as invalid the primary election that produced Mr Ighodalo as PDP governorship candidate.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo invalidated the primary election while delivering judgement in a suit instituted by one Kelvin Mohammed in a representative capacity.

Mr Ekwo held that both the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP guidelines were grossly violated in the conduct of the primary election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin, Edo capital.

(NAN)