The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by the former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillips Shaibu, seeking to invalidate the February 22 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
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Asue Ighodalo was declared the winner of the primary held in Benin City.
On Monday, Justice James Omotosho ruled that Shaibu lacked the legal standing to contest the primary’s outcome, as he neither fully participated in it nor was present at the venue on the day it was conducted.
The judge also noted that Shaibu’s application was premature, emphasizing that he failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before taking the matter to court.
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As a party member, Shaibu was required to follow the PDP’s rules and regulations, which mandate that an aggrieved aspirant must approach the party’s Appeal Committee before filing a lawsuit.
Justice Omotosho concluded that there was ample evidence supporting Ighodalo’s victory in the primary, thereby upholding the results of the election.
