A federal high court in Abuja has ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was wrong to have excluded 381 delegates from its primary election held on February 22.
In the ruling delivered on Thursday, Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge, held that the PDP failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the party’s constitution.
The judge further held that even though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) filed a memorandum of appearance in the suit, it was unfortunate that the commission did not file any process in the case.
Although the court granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, no consequential order was expressly made nullifying the primary election.
WHAT THE JUDGE SAID
“There is no doubt that the second defendant (the PDP) neither complied with the relevant provision of its constitution nor the electoral guidelines for primary elections of 22nd February 2024,” Ekwo said.
“It is the law that political parties must obey their constitution, guidelines, and regulations.
“The failure to comply with the electoral guidelines is not different from the effect of non-compliance with the constitution of the political party or non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
“The decision of the second defendant not to include the plaintiffs in the governorship primaries for which they were elected at the ward congress, was arbitrarily done.
“Ward congresses are to be held in accordance with the law, the party’s
