A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a forgery case against Edo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Asue Ighodalo.
The case against Ighodalo was instituted by Phillip Shaibu, the impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State and three others, seeking to disqualify the defendant as the PDP governorship candidate for the September polls, for allegedly submitting forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, the presiding 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. In addition, he added Justice Omotosho said having a voters card is no basis for disqualifying a governorship candidate.
The presiding judge 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.
The court said Shaibu lacked the legal right to challenge the outcome of the governorship primary that produced Ighodalo, having not been a participant in the same.
The judge therefore dismissed the case for lacking merit.
