Appeal Court Reaffirms Ighodalo’s Candidacy in Pivotal Decision

All doubts and allegations surrounding the eligibility of Dr. Asue Ighodalo to contest the September 21 governorship election in Edo State have been cleared. The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside the judgement by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court for lack of jurisdiction. It, therefore, reaffirmed Ighodalo as the authentic candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP for the September 21 governorship election.

Justice U. A. Musali while delivering a unanimous judgment in suit CA/ABJ/CV/763/2024, also validated the February 22 primary election of the PDP in Edo State. The Appeal Court held that the Plaintiffs in the lower court were delegates and not aspirants and therefore the subject was within the Internal Affairs of the Party. According to the appellate Court, the delegates were not aspirants and therefore had no locus to file the suit, and also, ruled that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the matter, being an internal affair of the party.