Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the September 21 election, has hailed the Federal High Court judgement nullifying the primaries that produced Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Okpebholo, in a statement on Thursday, said the judgement was a clear indication that APC is the party to beat in the upcoming Edo governorship election.
The court, in its ruling earlier today, declared invalid the primary election that produced Ighodalo as PDP governorship candidate.
The primary election conducted on February 22, 2024, was voided on the ground that 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo invalidated the primary election while delivering judgement in a suit instituted by some aggrieved delegates.
The suit was instituted by Kelvin Mohammed in a representative capacity.
Ekwo held that both the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the PDP guidelines were grossly violated in the conduct of the primary election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, Edo State capital.
The APC governorship candidate called on the PDP candidate, Ighodalo, to take the path of honour and withdraw from the race, having been misled by PDP stakeholders.
He claimed that the fate of the PDP candidate was a clear pointer to the failure that awaited the party in the forthcoming Edo governorship election.
“I welcome the court judgement given on Thursday by a Federal High Court in Abuja. The court has saved the Edo people from another four years of pain and agony,” he said.
Okpebholo added that what the PDP called primaries were a far cry, noting that with just two months until a crucial election, it was unable to put its house in order.
He called on Edo people to rally around him and APC to bring back the lost glory of the state, adding that if elected, his administration would be committed to taking the state to greater heights.
He noted that since the exit of Adams Oshiomhole as governor of Edo, the people of the state have not had any reason to celebrate.
“This will change in September, when the people will take power back through the ballot. Edo has been cut off from the centre for too long.
“We can see this from the level of abandonment; we need to return Edo to the centre and enjoy all the benefits that we truly deserve. We are optimistic.
“With this judgement, Edo people can clearly see that the PDP is a chaotic party and can’t be allowed to continue to lead our dear state. With APC, I assure you of the best. Our best is yet to come,” he said.