The Abuja Court of Appeal has upheld Dr. Asue Ighodalo’s candidacy as the authentic nominee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the upcoming September 21 governorship election in Edo State. The decision, delivered on Monday by Justice A. M. Lamido leading a three-man panel, dismissed a case brought by reinstated Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu. The appeal challenged the ruling of the trial court affirming Ighodalo’s candidacy, citing procedural grounds.
The Federal High Court had previously ruled that Shaibu did not fulfill the internal dispute resolution mechanism before filing his suit, deeming it premature. The Court of Appeal agreed, reinforcing that the trial court’s decision was sound and unassailable. Consequently, the court imposed a cost of 1,000,000 against Shaibu in favor of Ighodalo, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and two others.
The appellate court emphasized the importance of complying with procedural requirements before initiating legal action, citing precedents that underscore the jurisdictional significance of such prerequisites. It further stated that challenges to document authenticity require oral evidence to be resolved and reiterated the presumption of regularity in election conduct and results until proven otherwise.
In its final verdict, the Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment of the trial court, rejecting Shaibu’s claims and awarding costs against him.
