Court Upholds PDP Candidate Asue Ighodalo's Eligibility for Edo State Gubernatorial Election - Asue Ighodalo
In a recent ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a lawsuit challenging the candidacy of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) nominee for the Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21.
The decision was made by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who deemed the suit filed by PDP governorship aspirant Anselm Ojezua as premature.
Justice Egwuatu emphasized that Ojezua had not exhausted the internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the PDP before resorting to legal action.
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The court upheld the argument presented by Ighodalo's counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), that the party's rules require members to address grievances through internal channels before seeking judicial intervention.
The court's decision reaffirms Ighodalo's status as the PDP's gubernatorial candidate, having secured the party's nomination with 577 votes on February 22.
The election, overseen by Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, saw Ighodalo emerge as the winner, defeating other contenders.
Ojezua's lawsuit, filed on March 6, sought to nullify the primary election results and disqualify Ighodalo, alleging the use of a manipulated delegates' list.
However, the court's ruling underscores the importance of adhering to party procedures and the legal framework governing electoral disputes in Nigeria.
As the Edo State governorship election approaches, the court's decision sets the stage for a contest in which Ighodalo will represent the PDP, while the party's internal processes and the integrity of its primaries remain central to the democratic process.
