Not Yet Uhuru For Edo PDP LG Candidates As Leaders Challenge Primary in Court

                                                Aziegbemi

Hendrix Oliomogbe

For the winners of the last May 27 Local Government primary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 2, 2023 Council polls in Edo State, it is not yet celebration time.

This is because of a suit at a Benin High Court by the state secretary, Chief Hilary Otsu and some party chieftains of the Legacy Group in the 18 local government area of the state, challenging the outcome of the primary of the main opposition party for the forthcoming election.

The latest legal challenge by members of the Legacy Group, the so-called Aborigines is an indication that the fierce fight for the control of the soul of the party in Edo State between the supporters of Governor Godwin Obaseki and those of Chief Dan Orbih, the party's South South national zonal vice-chairman has not abated.

In the writ of summon in suit No.B/506/2023 filed on June 9, 2023 by Otsu and some of the party executive members in the 18 councils, who are the claimants against the state chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, the PDP itself and the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), they want a declaration by the trial judge that the party’s list emerging from the primaries held on Saturday May 27, 2023 is unconstitutional, illegal, invalid, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

Counsel to the claimants, Mr. Omorodion Ehigiator is also seeking a declaration for the primaries to be declared unconstitutional, illegal, invalid, null and void and of no effect whatsoever as they were held without the sanction or approval of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP to nominate candidates for Local Government Election in Edo State

They are also demanding an order of perpetual injunction restraining Dr. Aziegbemi from acting on or recognizing any list of candidates emerging from the Saturday May 27, 2023 primaries of the PDP as the party’s list of candidates for Local Government Election in Edo State.

Ehigiator further demanded: “That without the approval of the National Executive Committee of the second defendant, the first defendant (PDP), without notice to us and other critical stakeholder s/members of second defendant (Dr. Aziegbemi) in Edo State on Saturday May 27, 2023 purportedly organized and held primaries for the nomination of second defendant’s candidates for election into Local Government Election in Edo State.”

He continued: “That the purported primaries were held without the valid register of members of the second defendants which register is in the custody of the second to 15 claimants and other ward chairmen and secretaries in Edo State.”