Edo Guber: Shaibu Drags PDP, Ighodalo, Others to Court Over Party Primaries

Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has taken legal action against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Asue Ighodalo, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the party’s primary held on February 22, 2024.

The case, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks an order to nullify PDP’s declaration of Ighodalo as the party’s candidate in the governorship primary election.

Shaibu also seeks an order of injunction restraining Ighodalo from presenting himself as the duly nominated governorship candidate of the PDP for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024.

The legal battle comes amidst an impeachment threat from the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), which has accused the deputy governor of perjury and leaking government secrets.

However, Shaibu’s office has denied receiving any impeachment notice.

The case also involves the nomination of delegates and the conduct of a fresh primary election for the selection of the PDP’s governorship candidate.

The court is being asked to issue an order of injunction restraining the defendants from tampering with and/or discarding the delegates lists that emerged from the party’s congresses held on February 4 and 10, 2024.

Additionally, Shaibu is seeking an order mandating the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary election to nominate the party’s candidate for the 2024 Edo State governorship election.

The outcome of this legal battle is expected to have significant implications for the political landscape in Edo State, as it could potentially affect the composition of candidates in the upcoming gubernatorial race.