Matthew Iduoriyemkewen, Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Edo State Campaign Organisation for the September 21 Governorship Election, has praised the Federal High Court of Abuja’s decision to confirm Asue Ighodalo as the PDP’s governorship candidate.
Iduoriyemkewen stated that the PDP has always prioritised campaigns ahead of the governorship election.
He claimed that the decision did not come as a surprise because the case was brought to court to generate distraction.
He urged the dissatisfied members to prioritise the interests of the party before personal ambitions, noting that only one person can represent the PDP in the governorship contest.
On Wednesday, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a complaint filed by former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, and others seeking to nullify Ighodalo’s nomination as the PDP’s candidate in the upcoming governorship election in Edo State.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the complaint, which challenged Ighodalo’s eligibility because he allegedly fabricated his voter registration card, was statute-barred.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the claim, as a pre-election case, was brought after the 14-day period allowed under Section 285(9) of the Constitution.
The judge further determined that, while forgery or non-possession of a voter’s card was a disqualifying criterion under Section 182 of the Constitution, the plaintiff failed to prove that Ighodalo faked his voter’s card, as claimed by the plaintiffs.
The judge dismissed the lawsuit for lack of merit.
The court also ruled that Shaibu lacked the authority to dispute the primary that produced Ighodalo because he did not participate in the exercise.