Edo guber: Court strikes out suits challenging Ighodalo’s PDP candidacy

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Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has struck out two separate suits questioning the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as governorship candidate for the coming Edo State gubernatorial poll.

The court held that those who instituted the suits from the political camp of former Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shuaibu, have no locus standi to do so.

Delivering judgments in the suits on Tuesday, Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiffs failed to exhibit sufficient, direct, and tangible personal interest that could lead the court to nullify the primary election.

While the first suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024, was filed by Adizetu Umoru, 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, INEC, PDP, Umar Damagu (acting national chairman), Setonji Koshoedo, PDP’s National Working Committee, NWC, and its National Executive Committee, NEC, as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.

The three plaintiffs, in their separate motions filed on February 19, had sought an interim order of the court restraining the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held on February 4 to conduct the PDP’s primary in Edo State, slated for February 22 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.

Justice Ekwo however held that the plaintiffs did not establish how their individual interests were affected or jeopardized by the primary election.

Specifically, the Judge said that the plaintiffs did not establish whether they were eligible to participate in the election but prevented or whether wrongdoings were displayed during the election.