Edo poll: Smear campaigns against Ighodalo efforts in futility- PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has described smear campaigns against its candidate in the September 21, 2024, Edo State Governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, as efforts in futility.

On Thursday, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the PDP primary election.

This ruling followed a lawsuit (FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2024) filed by dissatisfied delegates, with Kelvin Mohammed as their representative. The judge invalidated the primaries because 378 delegates, who were entitled to vote, were unlawfully excluded, breaching legal requirements.

The court found significant violations of the Electoral Act 2022, PDP guidelines and the party’s constitution during the primary held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, the state capital.

However, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba stated on Thursday that the court did not issue any order nullifying Ighodalo’s primary election as the party’s candidate for the state governorship election, noting the lack of any grounds for such an action.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Ologunagba said Ighodalo’s frustration stems from his emergence as the candidate, his widespread popularity across the state, and his strong lead in the election.

The statement read in parts, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) affirms that smear campaigns and frivolous litigations aimed to distract its candidate in the September 21, 2024, Edo State Governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo are all efforts in futility as he is the undisputed choice of the majority of the people of Edo State.

“The PDP alerts that it is aware of a well-oiled plot by certain egocentric and overtly ambitious individuals to orchestrate a series of coordinated smear campaigns against Dr. Asue Ighodalo being frustrated by his emergence as a candidate, his overwhelming popularity across the state and the fact that he is already coasting to victory in the election.

“The party has been made aware of how these angry and bitter individuals have been going around the courts and reportedly attempting to induce certain judicial officers to procure damaging rulings against our candidate.”

The PDP chieftain added that “it has also come to the knowledge of our party that these unscrupulous elements have been attempting to compromise the media to publish fabrications against our candidate and campaign.”

Ologunagba asserted that the PDP remains undeterred by the smear campaign, emphasising that the schemes against Ighodalo and the people of Edo State have failed, as they have already been exposed.

“Our party alerts the Institution of the Judiciary, the Media and Security Agencies to be wary of the antics and activities of these elements and take steps to resist their shenanigans which is a clear and present danger to the sustenance of democracy in our country,” he added.