Court Dismisses Shaibu’s Plea to Annul Ighodalo’s Candidacy

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja dismissed a suit by the impeached Deputy Governor of Edo, Phillip Shaibu, seeking to nullify the Feb. 22 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which produced Asue Ighodalo as its candidate.

Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, held that Shaibu lacked legal right to challenge the outcome of the primary on the grounds that he did not fully participate in the primary election and was not present.

According to the judge “the suit by Shaibu was premature because he failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the party before heading to court.

“As a member of the PDP, Shaibu was bound by the rules and regulations of the party, which require an aggrieved aspirant at a primary to first approach the party’s appeals committee before filing a suit in court.”

He held that there was sufficient evidence to show that Ighodalo actually won the primary.