The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the nomination of Asue Ighodalo as the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDO in Edo state.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice A. M. Lamido, the Appeal Court on Monday dismissed an appeal brought by the reinstated Deputy eputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
Shaibu had challenged the May 27 judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which declared Ighodalo as 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, determining that Shaibu did not meet the condition precedent before instituting the action, rendering the suit premature.
The court also affirmed the trial courts decision that Shaibu failed to prove his allegations of vote allocation against the Respondent, noting that election conduct and results are presumed regular until proven otherwise.
Consequently, the court dismissed Shaibus case and awarded a cost of one million Naira against him in favour of the respective Respondents.
Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had also affirmed Ighodalo as the governorship candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming September 21 gubernatorial election in Edo State.