The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillips Shaibu, seeking to void the February 22, governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Asue Ighodalo was declared the winner of the governorship primary held in Benin City.
Justice James Omotosho on Monday held that Shaibu did not have the legal standing to challenge the outcome of the primary because he did not fully participate in it and was not present at the venue on the day it took place.
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The judge further ruled that Shaibu’s application was premature because he failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanism within the party before he approached the court.
Justice Omotosho stated that as a member of the party, Shaibu was obligated to follow its rules and regulations, which require an aggrieved aspirant to approach the party’s Appeal Committee before filing a lawsuit.
He stated that there was sufficient evidence indicating Ighodalo’s victory in the primary.
