The Supreme Court has affirmed the setting aside of the judgment that upheld the Edo state People’s Democratic Party, PDP, delegates congress that was conducted by the pro Chief Dan Orbih’s faction.
A five-member Justices of the Apex court led by Justices Amina Augie in a judgement agreed with the court of appeal decision that the ad hoc delegates election of the Edo PDP remains part of the domestic affairs of the party for which the court cannot interfere under pre-election litigation.
The panel unanimously agreed that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to have entertained the matter.
Justice Emmanuel Agim who delivered the lead judgment held that ad hoc delegates are not known to law and can not institute the case concerning the conduct of the PDP delegates congress.
The justices also agreed that only aspirants in the conduct of party primary can institute such case, they however, dismissed the appeal for lack of merit.
Recall that Justice Ekwo had made an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing or accepting the list of ad-hoc delegates produced by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led faction of PDP for Edo State but was later upturned by the court of appeal.
