The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has dismissed a suit filed by impeached Deputy Governor Phillip Shaibu, seeking to nullify the February 22 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that produced Asue Ighodalo as its candidate.
In a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, the court held that Shaibu lacked the legal right (locus standi) to challenge the outcome of the primary because he did not fully participate in it and was not present at the venue on the day it took place.
The judge also ruled that Shaibu’s suit was premature, as he failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism before filing the suit in court. According to the judge, as a member of the PDP, Shaibu was bound by the party’s rules and regulations, which require an aggrieved aspirant at a primary to first approach the party’s appeal committee before seeking legal action.
The court further held that there was sufficient evidence to show that Ighodalo won the primary fairly and squarely.
With this ruling, Ighodalo’s candidacy has been upheld, and he can now focus on his campaign for the governorship election.