By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, May 27, 2024, dismissed a suit filed by the removed Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr Phillip Shaibu, seeking to nullify the February 22 governorship primary poll of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that was won by Mr Asue Ighodalo.
The Court presided over by Justice James Omotosho held that Shaibu lacked the locus standi to challenge the conclusion of the primary since he did not fully engage in it and was not present at the primary’s location on the day it was held.
The trial judge also held that the suit by Shaibu was premature and failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the party before heading for the court.
Justice Omotosho declared that as a member of the PDP, Shaibu was bound by the rules and regulations of the party which required an aggrieved aspirant at a primary to first approach the party’s Appeal Committee before filing a suit in court.
The Court therefore ruled that there was sufficient evidence to show that Ighodalo won the Governorship Primary of the Edo State chapter of the PDP.