The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled in favor of Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the upcoming Edo State governorship election, dismissing a suit that sought to disqualify him.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment, stating that the lawsuit, filed by aggrieved PDP aspirant Anselm Ojeizu, was premature as Ojeizu failed to utilize the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.
The judge emphasized that all aspirants must adhere to the PDP’s rules, which require them to resolve disputes internally prior to legal action. Ighodalo was declared the PDP flag-bearer after winning the party’s primaries on February 22, securing 577 votes against other candidates. Ojeizu’s suit claimed that the primary election violated the Electoral Act 2022 and party guidelines, alleging the use of a fraudulent delegates list.
With the court’s decision, Ighodalo remains eligible to contest in the governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024.