Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed two separate suits challenging the People’s Democratic Party’s primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the party’s governorship candidate for the Edo poll.
Delivering judgments in the separate suits, which was filed by Adizetu Umoru, the second suit, filed by Moses Alabi and Christopher Oboarer, the court dismissed the suits on the premise of a lack of locus standi on the part of the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission, PDP, acting national chairman, Umar Damagun, Setonji Koshoedo, PDP’s National Working Committee, and its National Executive Committee as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.
All three plaintiffs, in separate motions filed on February 19, sought an interim order of the court restraining the defendants from using the list of ward congresses held on February 4, to conduct the PDP’s primary in Edo State, which was held on February 22 pending the hearing and determination of the main suit.
Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiffs failed to convince the court or show sufficient, direct and tangible personal interest that could lead the court to nullify the primary election.
Justice Ekwo stated that the plaintiffs did not establish whether they were eligible to participate in the election but prevented it or whether wrongdoings were displayed during the election.