Toba Owojaiye reporting
Benin City, Edo state
In a dramatic turn of events, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finds itself embroiled in a legal battle as Alhaja Adizetu Umoru, an unknown disgruntled aspirant for the Edo State governorship ticket, took the party to court over alleged irregularities in the primary election process. The move has been seen as a desperate attempt to create confusion within the PDP ranks in Edo State, with party leaders reportedly in a state looking into it.
Umoru’s legal challenge centres around what she claimed to be a critical flaw in the party’s notification of the gubernatorial primary. Court documents available to Truth Live News reveal that Umoru has petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja to invalidate the ongoing process of selecting a gubernatorial candidate for the party.
Central to Umoru’s argument is the contention that the notice for the Edo gubernatorial primary was issued by Hon (Arc) Setonji Koshoedo, who she asserted to have been removed by a court ruling as the acting National Secretary of the PDP in January 2024.
Despite this, Koshoedo purportedly went ahead to issue the “Notice of Gubernatorial Primary Elections in Edo State” on February 1, 2024.
According to Umoru, a Federal High Court judgment delivered on January 9, 2024, had already confirmed Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the authentic National Secretary of the PDP, rendering Koshoedo’s actions invalid. This discrepancy, Umoru argued, renders the entire primary process defective.
The legal dispute is hinged on whether Koshoedo had the authority, as an ousted acting National Secretary, to issue such a crucial notice, especially considering the implications for compliance with electoral regulations.
Umoru’s legal team, led by Matthew Burka (SAN), has named the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, Umar Damagun (Acting national chairman of the PDP), Koshoedo, and the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee of the PDP as defendants in the suit.
The ramifications of Umoru’s legal challenge are significant, potentially jeopardizing the PDP’s ability to field a candidate in the upcoming Edo election. Party leaders have reportedly been scrambling to appease Umoru and other disgruntled aspirants, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
In her petition to the court, Umoru raises several critical questions that demand resolution:
⁃ Can the PDP legally act on the notice issued by Koshoedo, given his disputed status as the acting National Secretary?
⁃ Is Koshoedo authorized to issue correspondence on behalf of the PDP as its Secretary or Acting National Secretary?
⁃ Does the notice issued by Koshoedo invalidate the ward congresses conducted by the PDP?
⁃ Are the ward congresses conducted by the PDP null and void due to the allegedly invalid notice?
Umoru seeks not only a declaration that the ward congresses conducted by the PDP are null and void but also an order setting aside any actions taken as a result of the disputed notice. The outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for the PDP’s prospects in the forthcoming Edo election, underscoring the high stakes involved.