John Alechenu, Abuja

A legal practitioner and expert in election matters, Barr. Kalu Agu, has predicted landslide victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the November 2024,  Edo State Governorship Election.

He said unity among stakeholders is what was required to seal the victory.

Agu, who spoke in an interview on AIT Programme, Democracy Today, at the Weekend, explained that disputes which arose from the PDP adhoc delegate congress are internal affairs of the Party which are not justiciable under the laws of Nigeria and by the pronouncement of the Supreme Court.

He said from all indications, the people of Edo State have cast their lot with the PDP due to the overwhelming achievements of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led PDP administration.

The election expert stated that his position is a product of a careful and credible study as well as field analysis the people of Edo State who have tasted what true governance and service delivery is under the current administration.

He noted that lessons being learnt from the abysmal performance of the All Progressive Congress (APC) which is responsible for the hardship being experienced by Nigerians across the country will also play a part in the decision making process and the electoral choice of the people.

Agu said , “From all analysis the people of Edo State are supporting PDP heavily. The PDP is doing very well in Edo State under Governor Obaseki especially because of the numerous developmental projects of the governor. All the PDP needs to do now is to come together and consolidate on the support. Once they are united, the PDP will take the APC to the cleaners in the forthcoming election.

“Nobody wants to risk having the APC in Edo State. What is happening in Nigeria today under the leadership of the APC is a clear signal that Nigerians across the country have rejected APC. Today, Nigerians in all parts of the country are crying and dying of hunger; there are killings, kidnapping and banditry across the land. That is why there is agitation against the APC everywhere including in Edo State. Let the PDP come together and present a candidate because the people of Edo State are behind them.  

On the issue of the adhoc delegate congress, he advised aggrieved stakeholders in the PDP to sheathe their swords in the general interest of the people of Edo State. He also observed that such issues are domestic affairs of the Party which are not justiciable

He said, “I am not a member of the PDP but as a concerned Nigerian, my advice to the members of PDP in Edo State is for them to come together as one family. In a contest like this, there will always be one winner and once the winner emerges, others should rally round and support him.

“There are plethora of authorities that issues of primary are domestic affairs of a Party more especially the issue of the adhoc delegates. These are none justiciable issues. The Supreme Court has held that the Court has no business on issues of those who emerge as adhoc delegates of a Party. Section 84 (15) of the Electoral Act, 2022 is very clear in stating that no court in this country is empowered to stop the primary election of any Party or even the general election”.

Allaying fears of a replay of the nullification of PDP State and National Assembly candidates in Plateau State, Agu described the judgment of the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel as an error of judgment which has been overridden by the Supreme Court.

“What the Justices of the Court of Appeal did was more or less a coup against the PDP. The beauty of governorship election is that the matter moves to the Supreme Court and there is already a precedent set by the Supreme Court that issues of the process of nomination of candidates by political parties is pre-election matter and being a pre-election matter, the tribunal has no jurisdiction over it.

“The issue the aggrieved aspirants are contending is the process of the election of the adhoc delegates that will participate in the primary election. It is a common thing that when there is contest, some people will feel aggrieved and when they feel aggrieved, they may want to ventilate their grievance in Court. But our Courts have already held that such issues are domestic issues of the Party.

“Moreover, those that emerged as adhoc delegates are adults with independent minds. All the aspirants need to do is to approach them and market themselves to them.

“After the election, they should come together and rally around whoever emerges as candidate. This what the people of Edo State want from the PDP”.