It’s Win-Win in Edo as Court Reinstates Shaibu, Upholds Asue Ighodalo’s Candidacy

•Reactions trail both rulings

Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah in Abuja, Mary Nnah in Lagos, and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-City

In what turned out a win-win situation for the feuding camps in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, affirmed Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the duly nominated and authentic governorship candidate PDP in the state.

At the same time, the Court also reinstated Hon. Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, following his earlier impeachment and removal by the Edo State House of Assembly.

In the  judgement delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in the suit marked CS/469/24, the Court held that Ighodalo was duly nominated at the February 22nd primary election of the PDP.

The  governorship primary exercise took place in Benin City. The court consequently dismissed the case filed against his nomination by the Plaintiff, Shaibu.

Ighodalo emerged governorship candidate of the PDP in a primary election, which held on February 22nd 2024 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State.

He scored a total of 577 votes to beat his closest rival, Philip Shaibu and 10 other aspirants.

However, the Court presided over by Hon. Justice James Omotosho held that the removal of Shaibu from office as Deputy Governor of Edo State and the subsequent appointment of Omobayo Godwins as his replacement by the Governor Godwin Obaseki was illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

The Court held that there was a breach of the provisions of the procedure laid out in Section 188 (1) to (9) in the way and manner the impeachment process was conducted.

The court noted that the ouster clause in Section 188(10) limiting the jurisdiction was not a stand alone provision, and referred to the decision of the Nigerian Supreme Court in Inakoju v. Adeleke (2007).

The court, therefore, ordered the 1st Defendant, the Inspector General of Police to immediately restore the security of the Plaintiff as Deputy Governor of Edo State.

As of the time of filing this report, supporters of Shaibu were seen in and around the court premises celebrating the court verdict.

The court held that the impeachment was politically motivated because of his aspiration to contest the office of Governor of Edo State.

Meanwhile, reactions have started to trail the two judgments.

The suspended vice national chairman of the party in the South South, Dan Orbih, has congratulated Shaibu, and urged him to use the remaining days in office to remove shame from the PDP.

In a letter to Shaibu, Orbih said, “I want to sincerely congratulate the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu over his landmark victory in the legal battle against his unlawful impeachment by some members of the Edo State House of Assembly.

‘I am particularly delighted by this judgment being the one who led the campaign that brought you and Governor Godwin Obaseki to serve a second term as Governor and Deputy-Governor of the state in 2020.

“I was greatly pained to watch the unfortunate drama of your impeachment, which was generally reported to have been stoked by some elements in the Government of the state.

“As you return as deputy governor of Edo State, I implore you to use your office to bring zeal to governance programmes and policies, to wit, so that we would not be totally left in shame as a party that failed in our promises to the good people of Edo State.”

Also, a one-time ally of Governor Obaseki and former APC chairman, Aslem Ojezua, said the rule of law has prevailed.

Ojezua, who contested the PDP primary election, said, “I knew this is how it would end and I am very happy about the fact that common sense and the rule of law have prevailed in Edo State.

“I was surprised about the trumped up charges against Shaibu. I condemned it and said it was a shame that this could happen in Edo. Today, the rule of law has prevailed. We can’t rule Edo State like a banana republic or as if we are being teleguided by uncivilised people.”

Govt: Godwins Remains Deputy Governor

The Edo State Government has said the incumbent Deputy Governor of the state, Omobayo Marvellous Godwins remained and continues to serve in his capacity pending the hearing of the appeal of the judgement that faulted the impeachment of Shaibu.

In a statement, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said the state has filed a stay of execution on the judgement, urging the people of Edo State to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.

The statement read: “Following the Federal High Court, Abuja judgement that faulted the impeachment of the erstwhile deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, the Edo State Government has filed a stay of execution of the judgement.

“Pending the hearing of the appeal of the judgement, the incumbent Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Omobayo Marvellous Godwins remains and continues to serve as the valid Deputy Governor of Edo State.

“He will continue to serve in this capacity and would be recognized as such. The government hereby calls on the people of Edo State to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.”

PDP Hails Court Judgement Affirming Ighodalo’s Candidacy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which affirmed the nomination of its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, in the September 21, 2024 Governorship election in Edo State.

The Party in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described the landmark judgement which upheld the governorship primary election held on February 22, 2024 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City as victory for democracy, Rule of Law and a well-founded affirmation of the propriety and credibility of the Primary election and PDP’s internal democracy.

The party said that the  spontaneous jubilation across Edo State at the news of the judgement reaffirmed the PDP candidate, Ighodalo, as the undisputed preference of the majority of the people of Edo State in the coming Governorship election.

Also, in a statement made by the media aide in the PDP Campaign Council, Felix Osaro, thePDP reaffirmed Ighodalo as the undisputed choice of the majority of the people of Edo State.

The statement said the party was aware of a well-oiled plot by certain egocentric and overtly ambitious individuals to orchestrate a series of coordinated smear campaigns against Ighodalo.

Similarly,  the Team Asue Media Organisation (TAMO) has hailed the judgement, too.

In a statement issued in Benin City, TAMO said “the judgment represents a landmark pronouncement by upholding the sanctity of the PDP Governorship primary in Edo State which  held on February 22, 2024 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.  It’s surely a good victory for democracy and  rule of law.”