A Federal High Court in Abuja has cleared Asue Ighodalo, the Edo State Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, of alleged forgery.
This is in a case instituted by Phillip Shaibu, the impeached deputy governor of Edo State, and three others intended to disqualify Ighodalo as the PDP governorship candidate for the September polls for allegedly submitting forged documents to electoral body, INEC.
But the judge, James Omotoso, held that Shaibu and others failed to prove their case having relied on the voter’s card of Ighodalo, which was alleged to be fake.
The judge held that there was no evidence beyond reasonable doubt to prove that the card was forged. Moreso, he added that not having a voters card is no basis for disqualifying a governorship candidate.
Omotoso also held that the Shaibu and three others filed their case beyond the 14 days they were meant to do so to challenge the emergence of Ighodalo as the Edo governorship candidate of the PDP.
In addition, the judge held that Shaibu lacked the legal right to challenge the outcome of the governorship primary that produced Asue Ighodalo having not been a participant in the same.
The judge therefore dismissed the case for lacking merit.
Godfrey Eshiemoghie
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