The political landscape in Edo State has taken a dramatic turn as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, confidently declared that the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, against the recent Federal High Court judgment will “crash and burn” at the appellate court.
The bold assertion comes days after Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated the PDP’s primary election that produced Ighodalo as its flagbearer, citing gross violations of electoral guidelines. The ruling, which has thrown the PDP into disarray, has set the stage for a fierce legal and political battle ahead of the September 21 governorship election.
Court Ruling Uproots PDP’s Foundation
Justice Ekwo’s judgment, delivered last Wednesday, struck a devastating blow to the PDP’s campaign machinery. The court found that the party’s February 22 primary election, which saw Ighodalo emerge victorious, was conducted without proper adherence to electoral laws, particularly the requirement for proper notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the exclusion of 378 delegates who were unlawfully barred from voting.
The suit, filed by aggrieved PDP aspirants including Anselm Ojezua and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, argued that the primary was manipulated to favor Ighodalo, a former chairman of Sterling Bank, who is believed to enjoy the backing of outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki. The court’s decision has not only nullified Ighodalo’s candidacy but has also exposed deep fractures within the Edo PDP, with factions now openly trading blame for the legal misstep.
Okpebholo’s Confidence: Legal or Political Bluster?
Senator Okpebholo, buoyed by the court’s ruling, has dismissed any possibility of the PDP successfully overturning the judgment at the Court of Appeal. Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the APC candidate exuded confidence, stating, “The law is clear, and the facts are indisputable. The PDP conducted a sham primary, and no amount of legal gymnastics can change that. Their appeal is dead on arrival.”
Legal analysts are divided on Okpebholo’s optimism. While some agree that the PDP faces an uphill task given the specifics of the case, others caution that appellate courts sometimes take a different view on technicalities. The Federal High Court’s decision was based on clear procedural breaches,” said constitutional lawyer Prof. Edoba Omoregie. “Unless the PDP can demonstrate that those breaches were inconsequential—which is unlikely—their chances at appeal appear slim.”
PDP’s Desperate Moves to Salvage Campaign
Within the PDP, panic has set in as the party scrambles to file its appeal while simultaneously preparing for the possibility of conducting a fresh primary. Sources within the party reveal that Governor Obaseki and his allies are exploring multiple options, including out-of-court settlements with the aggrieved aspirants and last-minute lobbying of judicial officers.
Ighodalo, who had been running a relatively smooth campaign focused on economic transformation, now finds his political future hanging in the balance. His camp has urged supporters to remain calm, insisting that the appellate court will vindicate them. “This is a temporary setback,” said Ighodalo’s campaign spokesman, Matthew Okoro. The truth will prevail, and Edo people will still have the opportunity to vote for the best candidate.
However, time is not on the PDP’s side. With INEC’s deadline for candidate substitution fast approaching, the party may be forced to make contingency plans, including the potential substitution of Ighodalo if the appeal fails. Names being floated as possible replacements include the former deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, who has been locked in a bitter feud with Obaseki but remains popular among grassroots supporters.
APC Seeks to Capitalize on PDP’s Crisis
For the APC, the court ruling is an unexpected gift. The party, which has struggled to present a united front since its own contentious primaries, now sees a clear path to reclaiming Edo State after eight years of PDP rule. Okpebholo, who represents Edo Central in the Senate, has immediately shifted his campaign into higher gear, positioning himself as the candidate of stability and continuity in development.
The PDP’s collapse is a divine intervention,” said APC state chairman Emperor Jaret Tenebe. “Edo people are tired of their drama and incompetence. We are ready to provide the leadership this state deserves.”
Yet, the APC is not without its own challenges. Internal grievances persist among supporters of Dennis Idahosa, who was initially declared the winner of the APC primaries before Okpebholo emerged through a controversial shadow election ordered by the party’s national leadership. How well the APC manages these lingering tensions could determine whether it can fully exploit the PDP’s current woes.
Broader Implications for Edo and Beyond
The unfolding crisis in Edo politics carries significant implications beyond the state. For the PDP, losing Edo would be a devastating blow ahead of the 2027 general elections, further weakening its position as Nigeria’s main opposition party. For the APC, victory in Edo would solidify its dominance in the South-South region and provide a template for reclaiming other opposition strongholds.
As the legal battles continue, one thing is certain: Edo’s governorship race has transformed from a straightforward political contest into a high-stakes judicial and ideological war. The coming weeks will test the resilience of both parties and could redefine the state’s political landscape for years to come.
For now, all eyes remain on the Court of Appeal. Will it uphold the lower court’s decision and potentially reshape Edo’s political future, or will it give the PDP a lifeline in what has become Nigeria’s most unpredictable gubernatorial battle? The answer may determine not just who governs Edo, but the balance of power in Nigerian opposition politics.
