Politics

Edo Guber: Court Strikes Out Suit Seeking To Disqualify Asue Ighodalo As PDP Candidate

Published

2 years ago

June 26, 2024

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking to prohibit Barrister Asue Ighodalo from being presented as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.

The Judge threw out the suit instituted by an aggrieved PDP governorship aspirant, Anselm Ojeizu, on the ground that the case was premature at the time it was filed on March 6.

Delivering judgment in the suit on Wednesday, Justice Egwuatu held that the plaintiff, Anselm Ojeizu failed to explore the mandatory internal mechanism of PDP to ventilate his anger before rushing to Court.

Justice Egwuatu agreed with lead counsel to Ighodalo, Mr Akinlolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN that it was wrong and a breach of PDP mandatory rule on the part of Ojeizu to have sidelined the Appeal Panel of PDP in the resolution of his dispute before filing the case.

Ojeizu had sued Ighodalo, the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, praying for an order cancelling the February 22 primary election that produced Ighodalo as the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate.

His grouse was that the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the guidelines of PDP were grossly violated in the conduct of the primary election at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

Specifically, the aggrieved governorship aspirant alleged that a fake and adulterated delegates list was used in the conduct of the indirect primary election.

But Justice Egwuatu held that since it is mandatory for any aggrieved governorship aspirant to explore internal dispute mechanism resolution before approaching a court of law, Ojeizu is bound to comply with the rule like any other aspirant.

“In a matter of this nature, conditions precedents must be respected and complied with by any aspirant as had severally enunciated by the Supreme Court in all its decisions”, the Judge said.

Ighodalo, a lawyer and investment banker, had on February 22 emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), having defeated other aspirants in a primary election at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

The lawyer is believed to be Governor Obaseki’s preferred aspirant scored 577 votes to beat Barrister Anselm Ojezua, Arthur Esele, Osaro Onaiwu, Martins Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru and Felix Akhabue all scoring zero, while six votes were voided out of the 585 accredited delegates.

He was declared the winner by the Chief Returning Officer of the Edo PDP Gubernatorial Primaries and the governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Dauda Lawal.

Related Topics:#edo poll Asue Ighodalo Edo Guber

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Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

4 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

This was as contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Commission stated that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.

According to INEC, its position was guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.

The electoral body further noted that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

Politics

Govt That Fails To Protect Its Citizens Has No Business Remaining In Office – Kwankwaso

Published

4 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

“Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.

Politics

ADC Announces Temporary Closure Of Secretariat

Published

4 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress, ADC , says it has temporarily closed its National Secretariat as part of the end-of-year break.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said full operations are scheduled to resume in the New Year.

According to the statement, the secretariat will close on December 23, 2025, and reopen on January 5, 2026.

The party, however, said essential skeletal services will remain available throughout the period, while all other official activities at the National Secretariat will be suspended to allow staff and party officials observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“This is to inform the public that the African Democratic Congress National Secretariat will close for the year on 23rd December 2025 and will resume full operations on 5th January 2026.

“During this period, only skeletal services will be available, while all other official activities at the Secretariat will be temporarily suspended,” the statement said.

The party thanked its members, partners and supporters for their continued loyalty and cooperation throughout the year, noting that their support remains critical to the growth and stability of the party.

The ADC also said it is committed to its ideals and to democratic engagement as it prepares for activities in the coming year.