A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Phillips Shuaibu, the impeached Edo Deputy Governor, seeking to nullify the February 22 governorship primary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which was won by Asue Ighodalo.
In a judgment delivered on Monday, Justice James Omotosho ruled that Shuaibu lacked the legal standing to challenge the primary’s outcome, as he did not fully participate in it and was absent from the venue on the day it was held.
The judge also held that Shuaibu’s suit was premature, as he failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism before approaching the court.
According to Justice Omotosho, as a member of the PDP, Shuaibu is bound by the party’s rules and regulations, which require an aggrieved aspirant to first approach the party’s Appeal Committee before filing a suit in court.
The court found sufficient evidence to confirm that Ighodalo indeed won the primary.
Details shortly…