Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has said that the Abuja High Court ruling that nullified the primary that produced Asue Ighodalo as candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the September Edo State governorship election, was a temporary set back.
Fintiri who is Chairman of PDP National Campaign Council for the Edo governorship election, expressed the belief that the ruling will not stand at the Court of Appeal.
This is just as the PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamarudeen Ajibade (SAN), said the court did not nullify the party’s primary.
“The issue before the court was basically the issue of a delegate election,” Ajibade stated.
Fintiri and Ajibade spoke on Saturday at an inaugural meeting of the PDP National Campaign Council.
The governor told the members that their assignment demands a lot of commitment and seriousness.
“The candidate has a lot of credibility with him. He is deliverable. We can make him win if we are serious.
“The governor has worked; he is visibly on ground in Edo. His track record and pedigree also is enough for us to harvest and use positively to win the election for Edo PDP in this election,” he said.
According to him, the only thing understands in politics is to win elections, adding, “there is no second position in any election. You either win or you loss. In this outing, we are out to win.”
The PDP National Legal Adviser, said the party faced a lot of legal challenges in Edo State, adding that out of eight cases filed against the party, seven have been dispensed with.
Ajibade stated that Court of Appeal has pronounced that issue of delegates is entirely an internal affair of the political party, pointing out that it is only aspirant in the primary who can challenge nomination of the candidate.
He noted that was why the National Assembly introduced the provision of that section 84 (14) in the Electoral Act, and urged members of the campaign council not to be discouraged.
PDP governorship candidate Asue Ighodalo, said there were signs that the election is going to be a difficult one.
He stated that sometimes, distractions are more difficult to deal with than issues, but expressed the hope that party leaders are capable putting the issues in proper perspective.
Ighodalo promised to give the election his full commitment and ensure that PDP wins the governorship.