The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a claim filed by impeached Edo Deputy Governor Phillips Shaibu seeking to nullify the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Edo State on February 22, which was won by Asue Ighodalo.
Justice James Omotosho ruled just now that Shaibu lacked locus standi to challenge the conclusion of the primary since he did not fully engage in it and was not present at the primary’s location on the day it was held.
Justice Omotosho also held that the suit by Shaibu was premature because he failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the party before heading for the court.
The judge said, as a member of the PDP, he was bound by the rules and regulations of the party, which require an aggrieved aspirant at a primary to first approach the party’s Appeal Committee before filing a suit in court.
He held that there was sufficient evidence to show that Ighodalo actually won the primary.