In a significant ruling on Monday morning, the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the case brought by Impeached Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, thereby affirming Asue Ighodalo as the legitimate candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the upcoming September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
The case, titled RT. Hon. Philip Shaibu V. INEC & 3 ORS, centered on two critical issues arising from the Preliminary Objection filed by the Respondents: locus standi and cause of action. The Court determined that Shaibu had the standing to initiate the lawsuit (Issue 1), ruling in his favor on this matter. However, the Court found that Shaibu had not satisfied the necessary preconditions, particularly regarding the internal dispute resolution mechanism before filing his action (Issue 2), thus deeming the suit premature.
Citing non-compliance with Article 9 (g) (h) (i) and referencing NYAME V. INEC, the Court emphasized that fulfilling these provisions is essential for jurisdiction. Consequently, the Court upheld the lower court’s decision, dismissing Shaibu’s suit and solidifying Ighodalo’s candidacy for the PDP.
By Truthnews
