The Court of Appeal today upheld the nomination of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the 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 sitting in Abuja 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 Ighodalo was the rightful candidate of PDP in Edo State.
According to the appellate court, 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.
It stated that the conduct and results of an election were presumed regular until the contrary became proved.
However, it said there was no evidence from the affidavit of the Appellant to show votes were allocated to Ighodalo, 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.
