The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave recognition to a faction belonging to Governor Godwin Obaseki as the authentic candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming general elections.

Both Governor Obaseki and a National Vice Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih have been locked in a leadership battle for the soul of the party in Edo State.

But the apex court in its judgment delivered by Justice Centus Nweze, dismissed the appeal on the grounds that it was incompetent.

According to the judgment, an appeal must be based on issues contended at the lower court to qualify for review.

“Any ground of appeal that does not challenge issues raised at the lower court is incompetent. I enter judgment in favour of the respondents “, the apex court held.

Speaking with journalists, shortly after the judgment was delivered, Shuaibu was in court to witness the proceedings and expressed joy that the matter has been finally put to rest.

He called on all PDP members to join hands to deliver for the party in all the elections, stating that there is no winner or loser as the victory is for the PDP.

Shuaibu in urging aggrieved parties to embrace peace said that the umbrella is now widen to accommodate all.

Recall that a Federal High Court in Benin-city, Edo State, had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish the names of candidates produced by Obaseki’s faction as PDP’s candidates in the 2023 elections.

Earlier, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, in a related suit ordered INEC to recognise the candidates of Chief Dan Orbih faction as authentic candidates of the PDP for the forthcoming elections.

The parties in their various suits had asked the court for an order compelling INEC, to publish their names as the validly elected candidates of the Edo State PDP for the 2023 general election.

In his judgment, Justice S. M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Benin, relying on past decisions by the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, held that only the National Working Committee (NWC) of a political party has the power to conduct party primaries.

According to him, “There is nothing before the court to show that the primaries in which the 4th to 39th defendants participated was conducted by the National Working Committee of the PDP. Rather, their primaries were conducted by the Edo State chapter of the PDP.”

The Judge further held that, “In my view, the power of INEC under Section 84 of the Electoral Act is limited to monitoring of party primary elections and does not extend to preparing or declaring the results of that election. This remains the law.

“In the light of the foregoing, the 4th defendant, INEC, cannot rely on results prepared by the first defendant, Edo State PDP.”

Dissatisfied, the Orbih’s faction appealed the judgment up to the Supreme Court, where judgment was today entered against them.

Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu in his reaction, described the judgement as “no winner no loser'”.

Source: https://tribuneonlineng.com/edo-pdp-primary-supreme-court-declares-obasekis-faction-authentic-candidates-of-party/

Abeg person fit carry Supreme Court go court😕😹😹

Obaseki just damn lucky.
Winnings all the way.
But he should leave a good legacy to his credit after his two term period.

Yes he has been lucky. How he managed to survive the political war that would have consumed many inexperienced politicians like him still surprised me. From Oshiomole and Tinubu forces to Dan Orbih and Wike forces; all baffling

For governance he is doing his best although he needs to work more on infrastructure especially roads. Other areas he has been good.

yinkus6750:
Obaseki just damn lucky.
Winnings all the way.
But he should leave a good legacy to his credit after his two term period.

How do you mean pls!

Toneypen247:
Abeg person fit carry Supreme Court go court😕😹😹

jowhyte:
Yes he has been lucky. How he managed to survive the political war that would have consumed many inexperienced politicians like him still surprised me. From Oshiomole and Tinubu forces to Dan Orbih and Wike forces; all baffling

For governance he is doing his best although he needs to work more on infrastructure especially roads. Other areas he has been good.

he has been good in areas such as?
with how many commissioners?
with which house of assembling?
please can you kindly state any area obaseki is trying?
the man is a total failure in all ramifications, he has succesfully taken edo back to the 90s again.

Obaseki is now the Doyen if Edo politics.

On your testes we stand

Supreme court is the major problem we have in Nigeria, they will just overturn judgement as them like, both APC and PDP benefit from there madness, from bayesa to imo to zamfara.

What did you expect?. Obaseki is the legit faction .

Congratulations Obaseki. But APC folks will be happy with this as they are going to win more supporters; comfortably Looking beyond 25% now. BAT seems lucky in this election cycle.

This guy is just lucky.😊