Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
Edo State, NigeriaÂ
In a recent development, the Federal High Court in Abuja has delivered a decisive blow to two lawsuits aiming to nullify the ward congresses organized by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State on February 4, 2024.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, presiding over the cases, rendered the rulings on solid legal grounds, citing the lack of locus standi on the part of the plaintiffs.
The lawsuits, designated as FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024 and FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024 respectively, were brought before the court by Adizetu Hadiza Umoru and Moses Ademola Alabi, along with another individual. However, Justice Ekwo highlighted that neither parties convincingly demonstrated how their interests were directly impacted by the conduct of the ward congresses they sought to invalidate.
Emphasizing this critical legal principle, Justice Ekwo, in separate judgments delivered on Tuesday, underscored the failure of the plaintiffs to meet the requisite threshold necessary to challenge the PDP’s actions in Edo State.
Consequently, the court’s decision resulted in the dismissal of both lawsuits, effectively upholding the legitimacy of the PDP ward congresses in Edo State. This verdict carries significant implications, particularly in the lead-up to the highly anticipated Edo governorship election slated for September 21, 2024.