Edo gov’ship: Court strikes out suits challenging Ighodalo’s candidacy

A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out two separate suits challenging the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the party’s governorship candidate for the upcoming Edo State election.

Justice Inyang Ekwo held on Tuesday that those who instituted the suits from the political camp of former Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shuaib, have no locus standi to do so.

Delivering judgments on both suits, 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.

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 applicants had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, Umar Damagum (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, sought an interim order of the court restraining the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held on February 4 for the purpose of conducting 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.

The judge said the plaintiffs did not establish whether they were eligible to participate in the election but prevented or whether wrongdoings were displayed during the election.