Court Dismisses Philip Shaibu’s Case, Affirms Asue Ighodalo As PDP Guber Candidate

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has affirmed Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the duly nominated and authentic Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State.

In a Judgement delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in the suit marked CS/469/24, the Court today held that Dr. Ighodalo was duly nominated at the February 22nd primaries of the PDP which was held in Benin City.

Justice Omotosho held that the suit, which challenged Ighodalo’s qualification because he allegedly forged his voter’s card, was statute-barred.

The judge held that the suit, being a Pre-election case, was filed outside the 14 days allowed under Section 285(9) of the Constitution.

The judge also held that even though forgery or non-possession of a voter’s card was a disqualifying factor under Section 182 of the Constitution, the plaintiff failed to prove that Ighodalo forged his voter’s card as alleged by the plaintiffs.

The judge dismissed the case for lacking in merit.

The court also held that Shaibu lacked the right to challenge the primary that produced Ighodalo, having not participated in the exercise.

The court consequently dismissed the case filed against his nomination by the Plaintiff and former Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

Recall that Ighodalo emerged Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a Primaries which held on February 22nd 2024 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo state.

He scored a total of 577 votes to beat his closest rival, Philip Shaibu and 10 other aspirants.