April 30, (THEWILL)- The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 21 gubernatorial election in Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, on Tuesday, crossed another legal hurdle as the Federal High Court in Abuja, dismissed two separate suits challenging the primary election that produced him as governorship candidate.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, while ruling on the suits marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024 and FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024, filed respectively by Adizetu Umoru, and Moses Alabi along with Christopher Oboarer, held that those who instituted the suits from the political camp of the former deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, have no locus standi to do so.
According to the court, the plaintiffs did not establish whether they were eligible to participate in the election but prevented or whether wrongdoings were displayed during the election.
Adding that the plaintiffs failed to exhibit sufficient, direct, and tangible personal interest that could lead the court to nullify the primary election, Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiffs did not establish how their individual interests were affected or jeopardised by the primary election.
The plaintiffs had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, Umar Damagu (Acting National Chairman), Setonji Koshoedo, PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), and its National Executive Committee (NEC) as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.
In separate motions filed on February 19, the plaintiffs had sought an interim order of the court restraining the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held on February 4 to conduct the PDP’s primary in Edo State, slated for February 22 or any other date, pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.
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