Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Federal High Court, Abakaliki Division, has declared the rescheduled People Democratic Party’s (PDP), governorship primaries in Ebonyi invalid.
The Court also said it recognized the earlier primaries of the party which produced Dr Ifeanyi-Chukwuma Odii as gubernatorial candidate of the party for the 2023 polls.
The national Leadership of the party had conducted the parties primaries on May 28 and 29 that elected Odii as governorship candidate.
It however announced the cancellation of the said primaries and went ahead to reschedule and conduct a fresh primaries on June 4 and 5.
In the second primaries, Senator Obinna Ọgba, who represents Ebonyi Central in the Senate was elected as the candidate of the party.
Both candidates have been laying claim to the candidacy of the party after the PDP issued both certificates of return.
But in the matter brought before the Court by Mr Odii against Ọgba and others, the Judge, Fatun Riman, said the repeated primaries in the state was invalid as it was not monitored by the official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Court further held that the rescheduled primaries was not done in line with the law and therefore recognised the primaries of May 28 and 29 that elected Odii as governorship candidate.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Mudi Erhenede, lauded the judgement of the court on the matter.
“The court has revisited the suit for a fair hearing and ruled that the rescheduled PDP primaries remains invalid.
“So, the court in its wisdom has ruled that the business of June 4 and 5 primaries was not done in line with the law and of course recognised the party primaries of May 28 and 29,” he said.
