Federal High Court dismisses suits challenging PDP’s primary election in Edo State, citing lack of legal standing
Justice Ekwo rules plaintiffs failed to demonstrate sufficient personal interests justifying nullification of primary election
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed two separate suits challenging the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that led to the emergence of Asue Ighodalo as the party’s gubernatorial candidate for the upcoming Edo State election.
Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo ruled on Tuesday that the individuals who filed the suits, representing the political faction of former Deputy Governor of the state Philip Shuaib, lacked the legal standing to do so.
In delivering judgments on both suits, Justice Ekwo concluded that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate sufficient direct and tangible personal interests to justify nullifying the primary election.
The first suit, filed by Adizetu Umoru and marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024, and the second suit, filed by Moses Alabi and Christopher Oboarer and marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024, targeted 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 defendants.
The plaintiffs sought interim orders to restrain the defendants from utilizing the list of ward congresses held on February 4 to conduct the PDP’s primary in Edo State, scheduled for February 22 or any other date until the main suit was resolved.
However, Justice Ekwo ruled that the plaintiffs failed to establish how the primary election directly affected or undermined their individual interests. He noted the absence of evidence indicating their eligibility to participate in the election or any misconduct during the election process.
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