Politics
A’Court Upholds Edo PDP Primary, Affirms Ighodalo As Gov Candidate
Published
12 months agoon
By
Editor
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja on Monday, set aside a judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court that ordered the Peoples Democratic Party to allow the participation of the excluded 378 ad-hoc delegates in its primary election.
While delivering judgment in a suit brought before the lower court by the aggrieved 378 ad-hoc delegates, Justice Ekwo held that the exclusion of the plaintiffs in the February 22 Edo State PDP primary election for the selection of its candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in the state was against the party’s constitution and ordered their inclusion in the primary election.
However, a three-man panel of the appellate court set aside Justice Ekwo’s judgment of July 4, 2024, on the grounds that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit of the aggrieved delegates in the first place.
The panel held that the plaintiffs who instituted the suit lacked the necessary legal rights to initiate the suit since they were not aspirants seeking political office.
“It is only an aspirant that can challenge the primary election of a political party,” the panel declared.
READ ALSO: Edo South Enigies, Ohen Throw Weight Behind APC Candidate, Okpebholo
The Court of Appeal, in agreement with the submission of PDP, who had appealed the judgment of the lower court in a 25-ground appeal, argued that the issue of primary is an internal matter within the political party and, as such, outside the jurisdiction of any court, declared that a primary election is an internal affair of any political party; hence the grievances of the plaintiffs cannot be entertained by any court, as they are not contesting political office but selected to only participate in the selection of a candidate for the party.
Recall that three aggrieved ad-hoc delegates, Kelvin Mohammed, Gabriel Okoduwa, and Ederaho Osagie, had sued the PDP on behalf of themselves and 378 other delegates over their exclusion in the February 22 primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the candidate to represent PDP in the forthcoming September 21 gubernatorial election in the state.
They had asked the court to determine, among other things, whether their exclusion from the said primary was not in breach of the party’s constitution. They also urged the court to order the PDP to allow their participation in the poll if the questions raised for determination were in their favour.
Justice Ekwo, delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, said the primary failed to comply with Sections 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022, the guidelines for the conduct of the poll, and Article 50(3) of the party’s constitution.
READ ALSO: Tinubu: Gov. Mohammed’s Criticism, Signs Of Patriotism – PDP Chieftain
He held that a PDP must comply with its constitution, maintaining that parties are bound by the Constitution of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, and their own constitution and guidelines.
He held that where a party acts contrary to the provisions of the law and the guidelines that they have enacted for themselves, such actions will be declared invalid.
The court held that the case of the plaintiffs merited justice and ordered the PDP not to exclude them from the February 22 primary.
“Consequently, I find that the case of the plaintiffs succeeds on the merit upon a preponderance of evidence as required by law.
READ ALSO: Edo Guber: LP Reacts To Akpata’s Alleged Secret Alliance With APC
“A declaration is hereby made that by virtue of the provisions of Article 50 (3) of the Constitution of the 2nd defendant (as amended in 2017), the plaintiffs, together with the other lawfully elected delegates, whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L herein, are the lawfully elected Ward Congress Delegates in their respective wards and by virtue of which the defendants cannot exclude them from participating as 3 Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates at the governorship primary election of Edo State slated for the 22 of February 2024 or any other date.
“An order is hereby made directing the defendants who are bound by the provisions of Section 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Article 50 (3) of the 2nd defendant’s constitution (as amended in 2017) to abide by the outcome of the 3 Ad-Hoc Delegates Ward Congress of February 4, 2024, at which the plaintiffs and the other 378 delegates, whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L were elected and to allow the plaintiffs and the 375 other lawfully elected delegates participate in the primary election of February 22, 2024.
“An order of Mandatory Injunction is hereby made restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd defendants from unlawfully excluding the plaintiffs and the other lawfully elected delegates whose names and election results appear on Exhibits BID 8A to 8L herein, from participating as 3 Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates in the governorship election primaries of the 2nd defendant slated for the 22nd of February, 2024 or any other date,” Justice Ekwo held.
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Politics
Ekiti 2026: APC Aspirant Slams Oyebanji For Threatening Party Leaders
Published
32 minutes agoon
August 24, 2025By
Editor
An All Progressives Congress aspirant in the 2026 governorship election, Kayode Ojo, on Sunday, tackled Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for threatening party chairman in the local government area and wards not to entertain any other contender.
Ojo, who said that the governor’s waning popularity had pushed him to desperation, said, “This threat is not only ludicrous, but also vexatious and aptly demonstrates to all and sundry that the governor intends to turn the APC into his private fiefdom and family inheritance.”
The APC aspirant, represented by the Chairman, Consultative Forum of Kayode Ojo, Olukayode Oluyemo, who spoke at a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, expressed confidence that Ojo would win the party’s October 27, 2025 primary election despite alleged attacks and harassment from Oyebanji’s camp.
He restarted his determination to govern Ekiti State to redress what he called “the inexplicable stagnation ravaging Ekiti State despite the huge monthly allocation from the Federation Account as well as the state’s potential for development and growth.”
READ ALSO:Ekiti Govt Issues BEDC Seven-day Ultimatum Over Power Outage
He spoke in reaction to a statement credited to Oyebanji on Friday while receiving his APC expression of interest and nomination forms from a group within the Ekiti State University Alumni Association, which obtained the forms for him.
Oyebanji was quoted to have said, “I want to see the local government, I want to see the local government chairman and the ward chairman of APC that will open their doors and offices for these people. I want to know the party member that will receive them.”
But Ojo described the governor’s threat as a “violation of APC Constitution on the issue that members of the party are free to associate and to hold meetings with any aspirant in as much that they belong to the same party. We are members of APC, I don’t see why the governor is violating this constitutional provision.
“It is our party, so we are calling on the national executives of our party in Abuja to caution him so that he will not destroy APC.
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“The governor is as well violating the Nigerian constitution, which has made it very clear that everybody has the right to associate. Everybody has the right to switch, I mean to pick your candidates and hold meetings at anywhere as long as you are not holding the meeting to rob or to cause criminal activities.
“So Mr Governor of Ekiti State should trust softly, be a democrat, obey the constitution of Nigeria and obey the constitution of our party, APC”.
Oluyemo, who said that Ojo’s friends and supporters, who had provided cash for his nomination and expression of interest forms, disclosed that they would pick the forms at APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Monday.
He said that the group had been mobilising APC members ahead of the forthcoming primaries to enable Ojo pick the party ticket, saying, “The problem we have been having is attacks from the side of the government, which probably feels that there should not be any opposition.
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“We are not opposition members. We are members of the same party.
We only have our preferred aspirant, who we are backing to emerge as flagbearer.”
The group’s chairman, who alleged that Ojo’s supporters were being framed up and arrested for fictitious offences, called on police leadership in the state and at the federal level “to provide a level playing ground for all APC members to choose and follow their preferred aspirants preparatory to the party’s governorship primary election.”
He stated, “We equally plead with the leadership of APC in Ekiti State to eschew partisanship and embrace all governorship aspirants as one in the APC family.
READ ALSO:
“We also plead with President Bola Tinubu and the national leadership of our great party to caution Governor Oyebanji against ordering the arrest, harassment and maiming of APC members in Ekiti State. The forthcoming primary election is not a do-or-die affair,” he said.
Oluyemo urged supporters “to remain steadfast, law abiding and patriotic and unshakably loyal to the cause by stepping up mobilisation efforts across the 16 local government areas of the state without any fear as the day of liberation draws near”.

Benue State House of Assembly on Sunday elected Alfred Emberger as its new speaker.
The appointment came shortly after the resignation of the former speaker, Aondona Dajoh.
The new speaker is one of the four members suspended last Friday for attempting to remove the former speaker.
At the plenary session held on Sunday and presided over by the deputy speaker, Lami Danaldi-Ogenyi, the house resolved to lift the suspension on the four members.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Benue Assembly Speaker Aondona Dajoh Resigns
The majority leader, Saater Tiseer, who said that the plenary was an emergency one, moved a motion for the lifting of the suspension on the four members and was seconded by Samuel Jiji of Logo state constituency.
The deputy speaker said, “Following the motion raised by the majority leader and supported by members of the house, this house has resolved to lift the suspension of the four members.”
After lifting the suspension, the four members were ushered into the chamber, and the nomination of the new speaker was announced.
A member representing the Makurdi South state constituency, Douglas Akyaa, moved a motion and nominated Emberger for the position of new speaker, seconded by Abu Umoru of the Apa state constituency.
READ ALSO:BREAKING: Benue Assembly Suspends Four Members For Attempting To Impeach Speaker
While there was no other nomination, the new speaker took the oath of office administered by the Clerk of the house, John Hwande
The new speaker, in his acceptance speech, commended the former speaker for his service and commitment to the progress of the house and the people of the state.
He further said, “To my esteemed colleagues, I assure you that this leadership will be anchored on inclusiveness, fairness and respect for diverse opinions.
“This house under my watch will work harmoniously with the executive and judiciary while maintaining our independence in line with the principle of separation of powers.”
Politics
JUST IN: Benue Assembly Speaker Aondona Dajoh Resigns
Published
2 hours agoon
August 24, 2025By
Editor
The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, has resigned from his position.
According to Channels TV, the resignation is contained in a letter dated August 24, 2025, and titled “Resignation as the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly.”
Dajoh said his decision was made in good faith and in the interest of the state.
“I write to resign my position as the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, effective today, August 24, 2025. This is done in good faith and in the best interest of the state. I want to appreciate my dear colleagues for the opportunity they gave me to be the first among equals,” the letter, personally signed by Dajoh, read in part.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Benue Assembly Suspends Four Members For Attempting To Impeach Speaker
Dajoh, who represents Gboko West State Constituency, pledged to continue serving as a legislator.
“I pledge to remain committed to my duties as a legislator and representative of Gboko West State Constituency,” he added.
Details about who will replace Dajoh had not been released at the time of filing this report.
The House is expected to follow its standing orders to fill the vacancy and name a new speaker in line with legislative procedure.
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