Thelma Osatohanmwen
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ruled out two separate lawsuits challenging the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary election that nominated Asue Ighodalo as the gubernatorial candidate for the forthcoming Edo State elections.
NEWSTODAYNG gathered that, the plaintiffs, representing the political faction of former Deputy Governor Philip Shuaibu, were ruled out by the court due to a lack of legal standing to challenge the primary election.
Delivering judgments on Tuesday, Justice Ekwo emphasized that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate sufficient personal interest justifying the nullification of the primary election.
The first suit, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024, was filed by Adizetu Umoru, while the second, FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024, was filed by Moses Alabi and Christopher Oboarer. The lawsuits targeted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, and various party officials as defendants.
Recalling that in their motions filed on February 19, the plaintiffs sought an interim court order to restrain the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held on February 4 to conduct the PDP’s primary in Edo State, scheduled for February 22.
However, Justice Ekwo ruled that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate how their individual interests were adversely affected by the primary election.
The Judge emphasized that the plaintiffs did not establish their eligibility to participate in the election or provide evidence of wrongdoing during the election process.