Jimisayo Opanuga
A federal high court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Edo State deputy governor, Phillip Shaibu, to overturn the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship primary election held on February 22.
The PDP announced Asue Ighodalo as the winner of the primary election, where he defeated Shaibu and other aspirants.
The Edo State House of Assembly impeached Shaibu on April 8, following the recommendation of a seven-man panel of investigation that indicted him for disclosure of government secrets.
Shaibu, who was also declared the winner of a parallel governorship election held at his home, has since disagreed with Ighodalo’s victory.
Days after the primary election, Shaibu visited the PDP national secretariat in Abuja to request his certificate of return, claiming to be the party’s authentic candidate for the election.
Shaibu dragged Asue Ighodalo, the PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over the outcome of the recently concluded governorship primary election.
However, Justice James Omotosho, in his judgement, stated on Monday that Shaibu did not have the legal standing to challenge the outcome of the primary because he did not fully participate in it and was not present at the venue on the day it took place.
Omotosho ruled that Shaibu’s lawsuit was premature as he failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanism within the PDP before resorting to court.
The judge noted that as a party member, Shaibu was required to follow its rules and regulations, which stated that an aggrieved aspirant must first approach the party’s Appeal Committee before filing a lawsuit.
He stated that there was enough evidence to support Ighodalo’s victory in the primary election.
