A federal high court in Abuja has invalidated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the candidate for the forthcoming gubernatorial poll in Edo.

In the ruling delivered on Thursday, Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge, held that the PDP primary held on February 22 failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the party’s constitution.

Ekwo held that from the exhibit tendered in court, the returning officers who prepared the result sheets only sat in one place to falsify the outcome of the poll.

He said the exclusion of the 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, was against the provisions of the law.

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.

Rather, the electoral umpire had said they would abide by whatever the ruling of the court is.

“I found that the case of the plaintiffs succeeds on merit,” he said.

Three aggrieved ad hoc delegates had filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024 on behalf of the 378 other delegates.

The plaintiffs are Kelvin Mohammed, Gabriel Okoduwa and Ederaho Osagie, on behalf of the 378 others in 12 LGAs and 127 wards.

INEC, the PDP, its national secretary and the vice chairman of the south-south, were joined as 1st to 4th defendants in the suit.

The 381 delegates are those loyal to Philip Shaibu, the impeached deputy governor of the state.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has distanced itself from an X handle “parading itself under the name of ‘PDP 2027 @PDPGovernment”.

In a statement, Debo Ologunagba, national publicity secretary of the PDP, said the handle “claims to be an account for a purported official Support Page for News, History, Heritage and Administration of the PDP”.

“It has also come to the knowledge of the PDP that this account is being used by the handlers to express opinions and views that are not those of the PDP,” the statement reads.

“The PDP states in clear terms that the X account going by the name of ‘PDP 2027 @PDPGovernment’ is NOT the official or affiliate X handle of the PDP or any of its accredited Wings, neither is it an approved source of information about the Party and its activities.

“Whereas the PDP appreciates the interest of Nigerians in our Party, it is imperative to state that the PDP has not approved any organization or support group to create social media handles as platforms for PDP News, History, Heritage and Administration as claimed by the author(s) of the handle.

“As such, any view, opinion or content whatsoever contained or disseminated on the X account going by the name of ‘PDP 2027 @PDPGovernment does not represent that of the PDP.

“For official and authentic updates and information on the activities of the PDP including its policies, views and opinions, please follow the official PDP Social Media handles – X Handle, @OfficialPDPNig, Facebook- Official Peoples Democratic Party PDP (Nigeria) or visit our website: Peoplesdemocraticparty.com.ng OR Peoplesdemocraticparty.org.ng.”

The party thanked Nigerians for “their unwavering support and solidarity to our Party always”.

Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) transition committee staged a protest on Tuesday to demand the resignation of Julius Abure, national chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

The committee, tasked with revitalising the party towards a national convention, is chaired by Abdulwaheed Umar, a former president of the NLC, while Sam Amadi and Abiodun Olamosun are co-chairmen.

According to Channels Television, Omar and some other members of the labour union marched to the LP’s headquarters in Abuja, chanted solidarity songs, and called for the resignation of Abure.

The protesters, who argued that Abure’s tenure as LP chairman had expired, were denied entry into the premises.

Police officers fired teargas to disperse the protesters, who were shouting “open the gate”.

The LP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since Lamidi Apapa, the deputy national chairman of the party (south), declared himself the acting national chairman last year.

The crisis deepened when a national convention of the party held in Anambra saw Julius Abure re-elected as chairman of the LP despite opposition by a faction.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it did not monitor the party’s national convention.

The board of trustees (BoT) of the party described the convention that re-elected Abure as a charade and added that Abure’s tenure was over as national chairman of the party.

In May, the party inaugurated a transition committee to reposition LP as a party to reckon with in the Nigerian political space and conduct a new national convention.