Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed a suit by the embattled deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu, and others, seeking to void nomination of Asue Ighodalo as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming September 21 election in Edo State.
LEADERSHIP reports that a court of coordinate jurisdiction in Abuja, presided 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 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 adhoc delegates of the PDP against the conduct of the party’s primary election.
But, in the latest judgement on a different matter, Justice Omotoso held that the suit, which challenged Ighodalo’s qualification on the grounds that 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.
LEADERSHIP reports that Shaibu was a contestant in the PDP governorship primary election, which produced Ighodalo as the winner.