The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the nomination of Asue Ighodalo as Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in Edo State.
In a unanimous judgement delivered by Justice, A. M Lamido JCA in the suit marked CA/ABJ/CV/642/2024, the Appeal court on Monday 22nd July 2024 dismissed an Appeal brought by Former Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu challenging the May 27th Judgement of Justice James Omotosho of Federal High Court Abuja, which held that Dr. Asue Ighodalo is the rightful and duly nominated candidate of the PDP in Edo State.
The Appellate court held that the trial court was right and unassailable in its ruling that the Appellant(Philip Shaibu) did not satisfy the condition precedent before instituting the action therefore the suit was premature.
The court also affirmed the trial court’s decision that Appellant failed to prove his allegations of votes allocation against the Respondent. They stated that the conduct of an election as well as results are presumed regular until the contrary is proved and there was no evidence from the affidavit of the Appellant to show votes were allocated to the 4th Respondent.
Consequently, the court dismissed Phillip Shaibu’s case and awarded 1,000,000 (One Million Naira) as cost against him and in favor of the respective Respondents.
It may be recalled that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had penultimate week also affirmed Dr. Ighodalo as the Governorship Candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming September 21st Guber Election in Edo State.
