Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election held on February 22, 2024, which had resulted in the selection of Asue Ighodalo as its flag bearer.
The ruling came as part of a lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024, initiated by disgruntled delegates, led by Kelvin Mohammed. Justice Ekwo found that 378 delegates, who were entitled to vote, were unlawfully excluded by the PDP, a violation of the Electoral Act 2022, PDP guidelines, and the party’s constitution.
The primary election, conducted at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, was deemed compromised. The court concluded that the evidence presented by the PDP (Exhibit 1) was inadequate and revealed that the returning officers had manipulated the result sheets.
Justice Ekwo affirmed that the plaintiffs had successfully proven their case through the exhibits provided, leading to the annulment of the primary election results.
Regarding the Independent National Electoral Commission, the first defendant in the suit, the judge noted that while INEC filed a memorandum of appearance, it did not submit any further processes in the case.
He stated that INEC’s counsel declared they would abide by the court’s decision and upheld the plaintiffs’ arguments.
“I find that the plaintiffs’ case succeeds on its merits,” Justice Ekwo concluded.
It is worth noting that the 378 ad-hoc delegates, loyal to the impeached Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, sued INEC, PDP, its National Secretary, and the Vice Chairman South-South as the first to fourth defendants.
In the suit dated February 7 but filed February 8, the plaintiffs sought two orders, “An order for the defendants or their agents not to act but to show cause why the reliefs of the plaintiffs in their originating summons should not be granted about the plan of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants to exclude them and 378 other delegates, whose names and election results are contained in “Exhibits BID 8A to 8L,” from participating in the primaries of Feb. 22 in Edo.”
The plaintiffs, which include Kelvin Mohammed, Mr Gabriel Okoduwa, and Mr Ederaho Osagie, on behalf of others in 12 local government areas and 127 wards, averred that it would be in the interest of justice for their reliefs to be granted.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
