30th April, 2024
By Taiye Agbaje
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed two separate suits seeking to disqualify Asue Ighodalo as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the Edo 2024 governorship election.
The plaintiffs had challenged the primary election that produced Ighodalo as the PDP’s governorship candidate for the Edo governorship election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, while delivering judgments in the matters, held that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi (legal right) to institute the action.
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