May 27, (THEWILL)- The impeached deputy governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu, has lost his bid to annul the February 22 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State.
Shaibu had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the nullification of the shadow election won by Asue Ighodalo.
The court, in its ruling on Monday, dismissed the suit and held that Shaibu lacked the locus standi to challenge the outcome of the primary election because he did not fully participate in it and was not present at the venue of the primary the day it was held.
Justice James Omotosho also held that there was sufficient evidence to show that Ighodalo won the primary and was validly elected as the governorship candidate of the PDP for the September 21 election in Edo State.
The court held that Shaibu, as a member of the PDP, was bound by the rules and regulations of the party, which require an aggrieved aspirant at a primary to first approach the party’s Appeal Committee before filing a suit in court.
Justice Omotosho described the suit as premature because Shaibu failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the party before heading for the court.
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