The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Monday dismissed a suit by impeached Deputy Governor Phillip Shaibu seeking to nullify the February 22 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which produced Asue Ighodalo as its candidate.

Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, held that Mr Shaibu lacked the locus standi (legal right) to challenge the outcome of the primary on the grounds that he did not fully participate in it.

The judge also held that the impeached deputy governor was not equally present at the venue of the primary the day it was held.

The judge further held that Mr Shaibu’s suit was premature because he failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism before filing it in court.

He said, as a member of the PDP, the former deputy governor was bound by the rules and regulations of the party, which requires an aggrieved aspirant at a primary to first approach the party’s appeal committee before filing a suit in court.

The judge held that there was sufficient evidence to show that Mr Ighodalo won the primary.

(NAN)