The Appeal Court in Abuja has rejected an appeal aimed at nullifying the PDP primary election that selected Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Edo Governorship Election. The court, led by a three-member panel under Justice A. M. Lamido, dismissed the appeal filed by the embattled Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu.
Shaibu, who was previously impeached but later reinstated, challenged the outcome of the PDP primary election, claiming it was not conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act and the PDP Constitution. He sought to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing Ighodalo as the PDP candidate and requested a new primary election.
The appellate court upheld the Federal High Court’s decision, which had earlier ruled that Shaibu lacked the standing to challenge the primary election because he did not participate in it. The court found no merit in Shaibu’s appeal and awarded a ₦1 million cost against him.
The Federal High Court had also noted that there was no evidence showing Shaibu’s participation in the primary election held on February 22 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, and affirmed that Shaibu did not meet the legal requirements to challenge the election’s outcome.