By The New Diplomat Political Desk
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has affirmed Asue Ighodalo as the official flagbearer of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 governorship election.
The presiding judge, Justice James Omotoso on Wednesday also struck out the lawsuit filed by former Deputy Governor of Edo State Philip Shuaibu.
Justice Omotosho, in his ruling, held that the suit, which challenged Ighodalo’s qualification because he allegedly forged his voter’s card, was statute-barred.
The court held that the suit, being a pre-election case, was filed outside the 14 days allowed under Section 285(9) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
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 plaintiffs failed to prove that Ighodalo forged his voter’s card as alleged by them.
The judge, therefore, dismissed the case for lacking in merit.
The New Diplomat reports that this latest judgement comes after a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, had on July 4, 2024, set aside the PDP primary election that produced Ighodalo as the party’s candidate.
Justice Ekwo, in his judgement, had held that the PDP’s primary election held on February 22, 2024, failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022; the guidelines for the conduct of the poll, and the party’s constitution.
The verdict followed a suit filed by over 300 ad-hoc delegates of the PDP against the conduct of the party’s primary election.
Meanwhile, the PDP in a press statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba has hailed the court judgment affirming Ighodalo’s candidacy
Ologunagba, in the statement, described the judgement as a victory for democracy, the rule of law and the affirmation of the credible primary election conducted by the PDP.
According to him, the judgment is also a sign of an incoming PDP’s electoral victory in September
The statement reads in part: “The Party describes the landmark judgement which upheld the PDP Edo State Governorship Primary election held on February 22, 2024, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City as a victory for democracy, Rule of Law and a well-founded affirmation of the propriety and credibility of the Primary election and PDP’s internal democracy.
“The spontaneous jubilation across Edo State at the news of the judgement reaffirms the PDP’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the undisputed preference of the majority of the people of Edo State in the coming Governorship election.
“The Party notes that the judgement further validates the fact that all the aspirants at the Governorship Primary election were accorded level playing ground in the conduct of the Edo State PDP Congresses and Governorship Primary election that produced Dr Asue Ighodalo as a candidate.
“The PDP congratulates Dr. Asue Ighodalo and urges all Party members to remain united and continue to work together with the majority of the people of Edo State to ensure the victory of our Party and candidate in the September 21, 2024, Governorship election.”
