Crisis Deepens as Shaibu, Ojezua Drag INEC, PDP, Ighodalo to Court Over PDP Governorship Candidacy in Edo

Crisis Deepens as Shaibu, Ojezua Drag INEC, PDP, Ighodalo to Court Over PDP Governorship Candidacy in Edo

The crisis over the authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State has taken a new turn as the embattled deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, and Anselm Ojezua have filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, and Asue Ighodalo at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Shaibu and Ojezua, among the 10 governorship aspirants who protested against the conduct of the ward delegates congress and local delegates congress of the party, are seeking an injunction to restrain Ighodalo from parading himself as the duly nominated governorship candidate of the party.

Philip Shaibu emerged as the party’s candidate in a parallel primary, while Anselm Ojezua lost in the primary at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. Both primaries were conducted in Benin City on February 22, 2024.

Dissatisfied with the declaration of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the candidate of the party in the primary that took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, the duo approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, requesting the withdrawal of the certificate of return issued to Ighodalo by INEC.

Shaibu’s suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/308/2024, is between him, INEC, PDP, and Ighodalo, while Ojezua’s suit, FHC/ABJCS/304Q, is between him, Asue Ighodalo, PDP, and INEC as defendants.

In their originating summons, the plaintiffs argued that Ighodalo emerged from an invalid and unlawful governorship primary election, contrary to the provisions of the PDP Constitution and the Electoral Act.

They are also seeking a fresh governorship primary election to nominate the candidate for the September 21, 2024 election.

Ojezua stated that his originating summons was brought according to sections 84(13) B(1) and (ii) of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission’s regulations and guidelines for the conduct of political parties’ primaries, and Article 50(3) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (as amended in 2017).