Edo poll: Court dismisses suits seeking Ighodalo’s disqualification as PDP governorship candidate

April 30, 2024

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed two separate suits challenging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the party’s governorship candidate for the Edo poll.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, while delivering judgments in the matters, held that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi (legal right) to institute the action.

While the first suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024, was filed by Adizetu Umoru, the second suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024, was filed by Moses Alabi and Christopher Oboarer.

The plaintiffs had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), PDP, Umar Damagu (acting national chairman), Setonji Koshoedo, PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), and its National Executive Committee (NEC) as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.

INEC had announced that the Edo governorship election will be held on Sept. 21, 2023.

The three plaintiffs, in their separate ex-parte motions dated and filed Feb. 19, specifically sought an interim order of the court restraining the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held on Feb. 4, for the purpose of conducting the PDP’s primary in Edo State, slated for Feb. 22 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.(NAN)