ABUJA: Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
The Court of Appeal in Abuja decisively reaffirmed Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the duly nominated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the upcoming Edo State elections.
The judgment, captured in a Certified True Copy (CTC) dated August 8, 2024, dismissed the appeal brought by former Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, who had contested the Federal High Court’s earlier ruling from May 27, 2024.
The appellate court, led by Justices A.M. Lamido, Tunde Awotoye, and Patricia Mahmoud, upheld the lower court’s decision, labeling Shaibu’s appeal as both premature and without merit.
The court concurred that Shaibu lacked the legal standing to challenge the PDP primaries, noting that he did not participate in the process.
It further validated the delegate congresses conducted by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) as lawful and recognized the authenticity of Ighodalo’s Permanent Voter Card (PVC), which had been a point of contention.
In a sharp rebuke to Shaibu, the court not only dismissed his case but also imposed a fine of ₦1 million, payable to each of the four respondents, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, and Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
This ruling solidifies Ighodalo’s candidacy, firmly establishing him as the PDP’s flag bearer in the highly anticipated Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024.
“This judgment marks a significant victory for Ighodalo and the PDP, as the court has now twice validated his nomination process and dismissed all challenges raised against it,” remarked a political analyst familiar with the case.