News From Edo
Edo 2024: PDP stakeholders’ ‘selective amnesia’ on waiver for Ighodalo
By Ehichioya Ezomon
Previously unknown groups and talking heads have emerged in the lead-up to the primaries for the September 21, 2024, off-cycle governorship election in Edo State. Most of the groups and individuals come out openly and forcefully to promote and defend the interests of certain aspirants as “the best qualified” for the journey to the Osadebey Avenue Government House in Benin City, the capital city of the “Heart Beat of the Nation.”
But others simply throw dirt, and engage in diatribe and campaign of calumny to discredit, malign and sully the public and private image and reputation of aspirants they consider as threats to the ones they obscurely and obliquely advance their political interests.
Such’s the antic of a so-called “Concerned Edo PDP Patriots” in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came out swinging at Dr Asue Ighodalo, a leading aspirant on the party platform. For all intents and purposes, the group appeared to have woken up to the “evil” of unfairly granting waivers to new or returning members to contest for any political offices.
This, they said, contravenes provisions of the PDP constitution, and shouldn’t be extended to Mr Ighodalo, a Lagos-based businessman reportedly backed by Governor Godwin Obaseki, who’s also a Lagos businessman brought in and “installed” by Governor Adams Oshiomhole in 2016.
Despite the group’s protestation, the Governor Caleb Mutfwang-led PDP Governorship Screening Committee for Edo State cleared Ighodalo and nine other aspirants, who appeared before it on January 29 – with eight of them receiving their clearance certificates the next day.
The aspirants cleared are: Hon. Omosede Igbinedion, Anslem U. Ojezua Esq., Hon. Felix E. Akhabue, Dr Asuerinme Ighodalo, Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, Arthur Esene, Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Amb. (Prof.) Martin Uhomoibhi, Osaro Osaze Onaiwu, and Umoru Adizetu Hadizat.
If the PDP granted Ighodalo a waiver, would it be the first time to a non-party or core member? Did the stakeholders forget, unaware or ignorant of the blatant breach of the party constitution majorly to make “new or returning members” eligible for elective offices?
Were the “worried” members out of the political space since 1999, when PDP powerbrokers – and chieftains of political parties across the board – routinely disregard provisions of the party constitution, and give waivers to those who can afford the “asking price” and possess the warchest to prosecute campaigns?
Little or no thoughts are given to such candidates’ sources of wealth nor to their capability, capacity, competence, and the ground game to winning elections! All the party “elders” care about is how to “get their share” of the booty before the elections are confirmed or tossed by the courts.
Going by the PDP constitution, new members are required to sustain a continued membership for a minimum of two years, to be eligible to contest for elections, while returning members will remain on probation for at least one year, during which they won’t be eligible to vote or be voted for “except if granted waivers.”
Waivers have been contentious because many new or returning members want to contest for elective offices before they serve out the mandatory periods of probation. And the executive committees of the PDP at all levels have exploited the “loopholes” in the party constitution to grant or refuse waivers, for which the National Executive Committee (NEC) has the final say.
A few examples of waivers granted by the PDP in recent times will suffice in this discourse! In 2010, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who ran for president in 2007 under the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), returned to the PDP, and was granted a waiver to participate in the primaries for the 2011 presidential poll, with a PDP chieftain in Adamawa State, Alhaji Sadiq Aliyu Jada, taking the party to court for “illegal waiver” for Atiku.
On Aug 29, 2014, after defecting from the APC, the PDP – amid protests from other governorship aspirants in Adamawa – granted waivers to former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, former Lagos Military Governor, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), and former governorship candidate Marcus Gundiri, to contest for the primaries for the 2015 General Election.
In October 2017, the PDP granted waivers to former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, Engr Seyi Makinde and other returnees to the party. While Ladoja – then gunning for the post of national chairman – joined from Accord Party, Makinde moved from the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In 2018, Mr Oseloka Obaze, a protégé of former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, was granted a waiver to contest in the 2018 stand-alone governorship. Likewise on June 25, 2020, the PDP waived membership for embattled Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi of Ondo State for the governorship election for that November.
The most glaring of the Edo PDP stakeholders’ “selective amnesia” are the waivers the party granted to Governor Obaseki, and Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu to run for re-election in 2020 – after the APC denied Obaseki the ticket, and he defected to the PDP days to its primaries. While it weighed the waivers, the PDP postponed its primary poll in Edo from June 19-20, to June 23, 2020. According to Comrade Shaibu, he and Obaseki spent “naira and dollars” for the waivers and ticket for the governorship, which they won.
It’s like the “PDP Patriots” were saying, “Those are past cases; let’s turn a new page and deny Ighodalo a waiver because he’s not a bona-fide member of the PDP. And in any case, Governor Obaseki can’t grant him a waiver.” And one may ask: Is it Obaseki’s duty to grant a waiver or the leadership of the party?
The screening is over, but it’s crucial to understand the context of the petitioners’ complaint in a preemptive statement – as the waiver for Ighodalo was speculative as of the time of the petition on January 28. Meaning that the undersigned – Musa Aliyu (Owan East), Suleiman Braimoh (Etsako West), Victor Ikponwonsa (Egor), Osadolor Ogie (Oredo) and Ebosele Odion (Esan Central) – were intent on disqualifying Ighodalo at the screening in 24 hours, to prevent him from the primaries, and scuttle his governorship ambition!
Besides directing the petition to the Mutfwang committee, the PDP group copied the PDP Acting National Chairman; members of its National Working Committee (NWC); Zonal Vice Chairman (South-South); Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum; Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT); and Edo State Working Committee.
Thus, the tone of their petition was unambiguous! It reads in part: “We, the undersigned, wish to bring to your attention a matter of critical importance regarding the purported waiver planned for the aspirant of the incumbent Governor, Asuen ighodalo, in the upcoming Edo State Gubernatorial election of 2024.
“It has come to our notice that the planned waiver directly contravenes the party’s constitution, as amended, in Section 9, Paragraph 3, of Page 68, which unequivocally states that there shall be a minimum of two years membership span for a member to be eligible to stand for election into any public office.
“It is evident that the anointed candidate of the governor does not meet this requirement as stipulated in the party’s constitution. Granting a waiver that overlooks this vital membership requirement not only undermines the integrity of the democratic process, but also goes against the fundamental tenets of our party’s constitution.
“With this in mind, we respectfully urge the screening committee to consider this petition and to refrain from making any erroneous decisions that could potentially jeopardize the party’s chances of retaining the state.”
Without a doubt, the complainants were fighting the political interest of a certain aspirant(s) they weren’t bold enough to reveal, and cleverly “choose and pick” from the PDP constitution the provisions that align with their objective to halt the aspiration of Ighodalo that’s gained widespread acceptance.
Since entering for the race – and informing his ward members in Ewohimi community of Esan South East local government area of Edo State, officially declaring interest at the state headquarters in Benin City, and obtaining the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja – Ighodalo’s received support and solidarity from PDP members and the electorate in Edo State.
He lately got an enthusiastic reception from PDP members in Uhumwode, Orhionmwon and Ikpoba-Okha local government areas of Edo South, when he visited the areas as part of his consultations across the 18 local government areas of Edo State. As first reported by _News Agency of Nigeria_ (NAN) on January 26, Ighodalo received a unanimous endorsement of the party faithful as their “consensus aspirant” for the PDP primaries.
Amid applause, the party stalwarts and members said that Ighodalo’s endorsement – moved and seconded by elderstatesman, former Sen. Roland Owie and Mr Charles Egbe – “was informed by his track record of excellence in the various capacities he had served outside politics.”
In a speech, Ighodalo, who appreciated the people’s approval, and appealed to them to nominate him as the PDP flagbearer for the September 21 poll, said the governorship election isn’t about tribe, religion, family connections, “but about the man with the capacity and capability to develop Edo State,” adding that, “Edo has no reason not to be developed if the right leaders are chosen to lead the state.”
Touting his “track records” in the business world, Ighodalo said he’s “the best aspirant for the election,” and declared: “I am the leader that will take the state beyond the next level, hence my appeal for your nomination and support. Let us choose who can help us know the developmental road to lead Edo, and in doing so, we will have good roads and other basic amenities.
“So, I am appealing to you all to give me the opportunity to help our people in Edo, and I promise you all that I will help the people and remove them from poverty. We are going to govern Edo together, as one man cannot do it alone. So, together, we will create a better state and Nigeria.”
Some PDP members, who voluntarily stepped down their governorship aspirations, accompanied Ighodalo during his official declaration in Benin City, and obtaining of the nomination forms in Abuja, to drum support and cooperation for his inspirational bid for Governor that Esan people of Edo Central have clamoured for since 1999.
Yet, Ighodalo isn’t beating the drum for an Esan Governor, but a Governor of Esan extraction. So, as he moves round selling himself and his vision and mission to Edolites, his simple message is that he’s the wherewithal to turnaround the fortunes of Edo State, like the big and viable businesses under his direct or nominal belt within and outside Nigeria.
This message of good governance to redeem Edo State, and provide the dividend of democracy to ameliorate the people’s suffering, has resonated everywhere Ighodalo goes for consultations ahead of the primaries, and the September poll.
Perhaps, the “Concerned Edo PDP Patriots” don’t like to hear the message, and wanted to shut him out of the political contest. But the Mutfwang screening committee, and God didn’t sanction their entreaties! And Dr Asue Ighodalo’s still standing, his political fate in the hands of PDP voters at the governorship primaries!
Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria
***Obaseki swear-in new Deputy governor, Omobayo Godwins to replace Shaibu
At last the embattled Edo State deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu has been impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA)
The impeachment came after the adoption of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the state Chief Judge to probe allegations of misconduct against Shaibu.
Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki have been at each other’s jugular over the forthcoming governorship election and the PDP ticketsl
Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has sworn in 38 years old Omobayo Marvelous Godwins who hails from Akoko-Edo Local Government Council of the state as the new deputy governor to replace Comrade Philip Shaibu, the impeached deputy governor.
The 7-man panel set up by Hon. Justice Daniel Okungbowa, the Chief Judge of Edo State to investigate the impeachment allegations against the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu on Wednesday in a ruling by the Chairman has decided to discountenance an interlocutory order that debarred the Chairman and three other members from participating in the impeachment proceedings on account of bias.
The suit was filed on behalf of the Deputy Governor by his legal team at the Federal High Court Abuja, and was able to secure the order stopping the panel Chairman and members from proceeding with their inaugural sitting.
Counsel to the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, advised the seven-man panel set up by the state Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to obey the interlocutory order made by the Court.
The seven-man panel headed by retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa was set up by the Chief Judge to investigate the allegations of misconduct levelled against him by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Counsel to Shaibu in the matter in court, Professor Oladoyin Awoyale SAN, said the decision of the panel to continue with its inaugural proceedings amounts to deliberate act of disobedience of a court order and an attempt to foist a fait accompli on the court.
He hinged his stance on the order of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which gave an interlocutory order for proceedings of the panel to abate pending the return date when the Chairman and 3 other members of the panel will show cause.
The court had adjourned the matter to April 8, 2024 for the Respondents to obey the order to show cause.
The deputy governor’s counsel further submitted that with the ruling of the Federal High Court Abuja, all parties must abide by the interlocutory order of the court, adding that continuing with the panel would amount to undermining the rule of law.
However, counsel to the House of Assembly, who is the Deputy Clerk, Legal Department, Joe Oaifi Esq, argued that the panel’s sitting was supported by Section 188 (10) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, which forecloses any court from preventing the House of Assembly and the panel from discharging their constitutional responsibilities.
The seven-man panel is headed by retired Justice S. A. Omonuwa, with six other members.
The panel’s Chairman had gone on a short adjournment to determine whether or not they will proceed in the light of the order of court preventing them from sitting.
In his ruling the Chairman agreed with the submission of the counsel for the House of Assembly and said the panel will proceed with its inaugural sitting.
Counsel to Shaibu had to excuse himself from the inaugural proceedings of the panel, in obedience of the order of court.
Justice I. E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja had on Thursday the 28th of March 2024 ordered that all Parties in the suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/405/3024 to show cause why the injunction to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on Notice Should not be granted.
The Honourable Judge consequently gave the Respondents, including the Chairman and three members members of the panel three days to respond to respond to the Order to show cause on the grant of the restraining order.
The case is between the Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu and the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, Hon. Justice S. A. Omonua (Rtd) , the chairman representing himself and the members of the panel of seven appointed the by 4th defendant, Edo State Chief Judge and the House of Assembly.
THE ORDER:
” UPON THE MOTION EX-PARTE dated 26th March ,2024 and filed 27th March, 2024 praying the following Orders:
AN INTERLOCUTORY ORDER OF THIS
HONOURABLE COURT FOR THE
RESPONDENTS, their assigns, agents and however so-called to SHOW CAUSE on the “return day” why relief two (2) of this Motion should not be granted in favour of the Applicant
” AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT DIRECTING all Parties in this suit to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on Notice
Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo Judge
ORDER EX PARTE IN THE DEPUTY GOV, OF EDO STATE v. I.G.P. & 7 ORS
FHC/ABJ/CS/405/2024. AND FOR SUCH FURTHER ORDER(S) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.
“UPON READING the affidavit in support of the application deposed to by Elsie Esosa, Adult, Female, Christian, Nigerian citizen of suite BID, First Floor, KFC Building, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja and filed in the Registry of this Court.
AND AFTER HEARING A. A. Emwanta, Esq., of Counsel for the Applicant move in terms of the Motion paper. And the Court having granted the application.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo Judge
Order is hereby made for the Respondents, their Assigns, Agents and whosoever to show cause on the next date of hearing why relief two (2) of this Motion should not be granted in favour of the Applicant.
“Applicant is hereby ordered to serve the Respondents with all processes in this suit within 4 days of this Order.
” Respondents are hereby ordered to show cause on the next date of hearing.
“Case adjourned to 8th April, 2024 for Respondents to show cause.
ISSUED AT ABUJA, under the hand of the Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo, and seal of the Court this 28th day of March, 2024.”
Justice I. E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja had on Thursday the 28th of March 2024 ordered that all Parties in the suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/405/3024 to show cause why the injunction to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on Notice Should not be granted. The Honourable Judge consequently gave the Respondents, including the Chairman and three members members of the panel three days to respond to respond to th
The case is between the Edo state Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu and the Inspector General of Police, State Security Service, Hon. Justice S. A. Omonua (Rtd) , the chairman representing himself and the members of the panel of seven appointed the by 4th defendant, Edo state chief judge and the House of Assembly.
THE ORDER:
” UPON THE MOTION EX-PARTE dated 26th March ,2024 and filed 27th March, 2024 praying the following Orders:
AN INTERLOCUTORY ORDER OF THIS
HONOURABLE COURT FOR THE
RESPONDENTS, their assigns, agents and however so-called to SHOW CAUSE on the “return day” why relief two (2) of this Motion should not be granted in favour of the Applicant
” AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT DIRECTING all Parties in this suit to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on Notice
Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo Judge
ORDER EX PARTE IN THE DEPUTY GOV, OF EDO STATE v. I.G.P. & 7 ORS
FHC/ABJ/CS/405/2024. AND FOR SUCH FURTHER ORDER(S) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.
“UPON READING the affidavit in support of the application deposed to by Elsie Esosa, Adult, Female, Christian, Nigerian citizen of suite BID, First Floor, KFC Building, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja and filed in the Registry of this Court.
AND AFTER HEARING A. A. Emwanta, Esq., of Counsel for the Applicant move in terms of the Motion paper. And the Court having granted the application.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo Judge
Order is hereby made for the Respondents, their Assigns, Agents and whosoever to show cause on the next date of hearing why relief two (2) of this Motion should not be granted in favour of the Applicant.
“Applicant is hereby ordered to serve the Respondents with all processes in this suit within 4 days of this Order.
” Respondents are hereby ordered to show cause on the next date of hearing.
“Case adjourned to 8th April, 2024 for Respondents to show cause.
ISSUED AT ABUJA, under the hand of the Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo, and seal of the Court this 28th day of March, 2024.”
***Sues Asue Ighodalo, INEC, PDP
By Ben Ogbemudia, Abuja
The crisis in the Edo state chapter of the People’s Democratic party ( PDP) may be getting Messier as the state Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu has dragged Dr. Asue Ighodalo, PDP, INEC before Federal High Court in Abuja over the party primary held on 22nd of February, 2024.
Comrade Philip Shaibu is seeking an order of the Court nullifying the 2nd Defendant’s purported Edo State Governorship primary election which took place at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin-City on 22nd February, 2024 where the 4th Defendant purportedly emerged as the Governorship Candidate of the 2nd Defendant.
The Deputy Governor through his Counsel, Doyin Awoyale SAN is also seeking an order of the Court directing the 2nd Defendant to withdraw forthwith the Certificate of Return issued to the 4th Defendant having emerged from an invalid and unlawful Governorship Primary Election conducted contrary to the provisions of the 2nd Defendant’s Constitution and the Electoral Act.
He therefore further seek an order of injunction restraining the 4th Defendant from parading himself as the duly nominated Governorship candidate of the 2nd Defendant in the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election scheduled for the 21st of September 2024.
The originating summons reads : “AN Order of injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from accepting and/or recognizing the name of the 4th Defendant as the Governorship candidate of the 2nd Defendant in the 2024 Edo State Governorship election scheduled to be conducted by the 1st Defendant on the 21 of September 2024.
“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court restraining the Defendants by themselves and/agents, representatives, organs chapters, etc from tampering with and/or discarding the delegates lists that emerged from the 2^{nd} Defendant’s congresses of 4^{th} February 2024 and 10th February, 2024 conducted by the National Working Committee of the 2^{nd} Defendant.
“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court mandating the 2^{nd} Defendant to conduct a fresh Governorship Primary Election for the Nomination of the Governorship Candidate for the 2^{nd} Defendant in the 2024 Edo
In a suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/308/2024 , the deputy governor sought for the following reliefs : That A DECLARATION that upon a proper construction of the provisions of Sections 84 (1), (5B) & (13) of the Electoral Act, 2022; Article 15 (2) of the 2^{ND} Defendant’s Constitution; Part 1 Paragraph 1 (A), (B) and Part 1 Paragraph 1 (1) of the 2^{ND} Defendant’s Electoral Guidelines for Governorship Primary Election, it is only Ad Hoc Delegates that emerge from a Special Local Government Area Congress and Special Ward Congresses conducted by the 2^{nd} Defendant National Working Committee (NWC) that are eligible to vote in the Edo State PDP Governorship Primary Election held on the 22nd February, 2024.
“A DECLARATION that upon a proper construction of the provisions of Section 84(1), (5B), (8) and (13) of the Electoral Act 2022; Articles 15(2), 50 (1), (2B) of the 2^{ND} Defendant’s Constitution; Part 1 Paragraph 1 (A), (B) and Part 1 Paragraph 1 (1) of the 2^{ND} Defendant’s Guidelines for Governorship Primary Election, the 2nd Defendant cannot alter, modify, amend, exclude or substitute the list of ad hoc delegates from a Special Local Government Area Congress and Special Ward Congresses conducted by the 2^{nd} Defendant National Working Committee (NWC)who emerged as delegates for the purpose of nominating the Edo State PDP Governorship Candidate in the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election scheduled for the 21 of September 2024?
“A DECLARATION that upon a proper construction of the provisions of Section 84 (1), (2), (5B) & 13 of the Electoral Act, 2022; Articles 15 (2), 50 (1), (2B) of the 2^{ND} Defendant’s Constitution; Part 1 Paragraph 1 (A), (B) and Part 1 Paragraph 1 (1) of the 2ND Defendant’s Guidelines for Governorship Primary Election, the purported Governorship Primary Election conducted by the 2^{nd} Defendant at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin-City on the 22^{nd} of February 2024, from where the 4th Defendant purportedly emerged as the Governorship Candidate of the 2ND Defendant, is null and void.
“A DECLARATION that the 1 Defendant is not entitled to accept or recognize the 4th Defendant as the duly nominated governorship candidate of the 2^{nd} Defendant in Edo State for the 21″ of September 2024 Governorship Election, having emerged from an invalid, unlawful and illegal primaries conducted contrary to Section 84(1), (5B), (8) and (13) of the Electoral Act 2022; Articles 15(2), 50 (1), (2B) of the 2ND Defendant’s Constitution; Part 1 Paragraph 1 (A), (B) and Part 1 Paragraph 1 (1) of the 2ND Defendant’s Guidelines for Governorship Primary Election.”
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