Former deputy governor of Edo State, Rt Hon Philip Shaibu said the decision of the court to nullify the People’s Democratic Party’s governorship primary election has vindicated his earlier statement that the PDP did not conduct a proper primary election.
Shaibu stated this in an exclusive interview with Vanguard on Thursday.
He told Vanguard on the phone “I said it from day one that I have the authentic delegates and they voted for me on the day of the primary.
“I said that what happened that day at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was like a birthday party or a wedding reception because the real people that were supposed to vote were not there but with the court now I have been vindicated.
“I have been vindicated and I salute the judiciary. This victory is for the Edo people, it is for democracy and by the grace of God, we will take our state back from outsiders.”
Recall that on Thursday, a Federal High Court Abuja invalidated the PDP’s primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, held that the PDP’s primary held on Feb. 22 failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022; the guidelines for the conduct of the poll and the party’s constitution.
Justice Ekwo, who said that Exhibit PDP 1 tendered by the party was bereft of evidence, held that the plaintiffs, through the exhibits tendered, were able to establish their case against the defendants.
The judge said that from the exhibit presented by the PDP, he found that the returning officers who prepared the result sheets only sat down in a place to manufacture the outcome, of the poll.
He said the exclusion of the 381 delegates, including the plaintiffs, was against the provisions of the law.
Justice Ekwo held that, though INEC, the 1st defendant, filed a memorandum of appearance in the suit, it was unfortunate that the commission did not file any process in the case.
According to the judge, the 1st defendant’s counsel only said it would be bound by the court’s decision.
