The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed two separate suits challenging the Peoples Democratic Party primary election that selected Asue Ighodalo as the gubernatorial candidate for the upcoming Edo State election.
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the court ruled that the individuals who brought the suits from the political faction of former Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shuaibu, lacked the legal standing to do so.
In delivering judgments on Tuesday, Justice Ekwo emphasized that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate sufficient, direct, and tangible personal interest that could justify the nullification of the primary election.
The first suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024, was filed by Adizetu Umoru, while the second suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024, was filed by Moses Alabi and Christopher Oboarer.
The plaintiffs had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission, PDP, Umar Damagu (acting national chairman), Setonji Koshoedo, PDP’s National Working Committee, and its National Executive Committee m, as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.
In their separate motions filed on February 19, the three plaintiffs sought an interim order of the court to prevent the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held on February 4 to conduct the PDP’s primary in Edo State, scheduled for February 22, or any other date, pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.
However, Justice Ekwo asserted that the plaintiffs did not establish how their individual interests were affected or jeopardized by the primary election.
The Judge remarked that the plaintiffs did not demonstrate whether they were eligible to participate in the election but prevented or whether any wrongdoing occurred during the election.
