A/Court affirms Ighodalo as Edo PDP candidate

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the nomination of Asue Ighodalo as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Edo State. A three-member panel of justices yesterday dismissed an appeal by the embattled deputy governor of the state, Philip Shuaibu, who was earlier impeached from office but recently reinstated by the court. […]

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the nomination of Asue Ighodalo as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Edo State.

A three-member panel of justices yesterday dismissed an appeal by the embattled deputy governor of the state, Philip Shuaibu, who was earlier impeached from office but recently reinstated by the court.

In the lead judgement, Justice A.M. Lamido held that the appeal lacked merit, adding that the panel found no reason to set aside the May 27 judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which refused to invalidate the governorship primary election the PDP conducted in Edo State.

The panel awarded a cost of N1 million against Shuaibu.

A Federal High Court in Abuja presided by Justice James Omotosho had in May held that Shaibu lacked the locus standi (legal rights) to seek to nullify the outcome of the PDP primary.

Justice Omotosho held that Shuaibu did not meet the condition precedent for the exercise of such right, adding that he failed to show that he participated in the primary he sought to nullify its outcome.

Justice Omotosho held that it was a basic requirement of the law that a plaintiff must take part in a disputed election to be able to challenge its outcome in court