The battle for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in Edo State has taken a decisive turn, with the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissing a suit filed by the impeached Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, seeking to nullify the emergence of Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, May 27, 2024, the court struck down Shaibu’s challenge to the PDP’s governorship primary election held on February 22, 2024, which saw Ighodalo emerge victorious with 577 votes.
Shaibu had argued that the primary election that produced Ighodalo was flawed and sought an order from the court to nullify the results and mandate the PDP to conduct a fresh primary as reported by Thisdaylive.
However, the court dismissed his suit, effectively upholding Ighodalo’s candidacy.
The legal tussle between Shaibu and Ighodalo stems from the parallel primaries held by the PDP in Edo State.
While Ighodalo won the main primary election supervised by the party’s national leadership, Shaibu organized a separate exercise where he was declared the winner with 301 votes.
Shaibu had insisted that he was the authentic flagbearer of the party, claiming that the delegates who elected Ighodalo were not legitimate.
He had also accused the party of siding with Ighodalo, who he claimed was the preferred candidate of the outgoing Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
In its ruling, the Federal High Court dismissed Shaibu’s claims, effectively validating Ighodalo’s emergence as the PDP’s governorship candidate for the September 21, 2024 election in Edo State.
The court’s decision has dealt a significant blow to Shaibu’s ambitions and has further deepened the rift within the PDP in Edo State.
Shaibu had previously stormed the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, demanding a certificate of return as the rightful candidate, but his demands were rebuffed.
The court’s ruling has cleared the way for Ighodalo to focus his campaign efforts without the lingering uncertainty surrounding his candidacy.
As a renowned businessman and former chairman of Sterling Bank, Ighodalo has positioned himself as a capable leader who can build upon the foundation laid by the outgoing Governor Obaseki.
However, the PDP’s internal divisions and the potential for further legal challenges from Shaibu’s camp could pose a significant challenge to Ighodalo’s campaign.
The party will need to unite behind its candidate to present a formidable challenge to the opposition parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP), which have also fielded strong candidates.
The opposition parties in Edo State have been closely monitoring the developments within the PDP.
The APC’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo, a senator representing Edo Central, has already begun his campaign efforts, positioning himself as a unifying force capable of addressing the state’s challenges.
Similarly, the Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, a former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, has been actively campaigning and garnering support from various quarters.
Both Okpebholo and Akpata have seized upon the PDP’s internal divisions, portraying themselves as viable alternatives to the ruling party’s infighting.
However, with the court’s ruling, the PDP may now be able to present a more united front, setting the stage for an intense and highly competitive governorship race in Edo State.
The Federal High Court’s dismissal of Philip Shaibu’s suit has brought clarity to the PDP’s governorship candidacy in Edo State, paving the way for Asue Ighodalo to lead the party’s campaign efforts.
However, the internal divisions within the PDP and the potential for further legal challenges from Shaibu’s camp could pose significant obstacles.
As the September 21 election date approaches, all eyes will be on Edo State, where the battle for the governorship promises to be a closely contested affair, with the APC, PDP, and Labour Party fielding formidable candidates.
The outcome of this election will have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of Edo State and could potentially shape the future direction of the state.
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