The court, in a detailed judgment delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, yesterday, struck out the suit brought before it by an aggrieved PDP Governorship aspirant, Anselm Ojezua. The judgment was a significant one, as it addressed several key issues related to the internal workings of political parties and their dispute resolution mechanisms.
Premature Suit
Justice Egwuatu held that the suit, which was filed on March 6, was premature. He emphasized that the plaintiff, Anselm Ojezua, failed to explore the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the party before instituting the action. This point was crucial because political parties often have established procedures for resolving disputes internally, and these procedures must be followed before seeking judicial intervention.
The judge noted that the internal dispute resolution mechanism is designed to handle grievances within the party structure, thereby reducing the burden on the courts and ensuring that party matters are resolved in-house. By bypassing this mechanism, the plaintiff not only violated party rules but also undermined the party’s ability to manage its own affairs.
Breach of Mandatory Rule
Justice Egwuatu agreed with Ighodalo’s lead counsel, Mr. Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, that it was wrong and amounted to a breach of PDP’s mandatory rule for the plaintiff to have sidelined the Appeal Panel of the party. The Appeal Panel is a critical component of the party’s internal dispute resolution process, and its role is to hear and resolve complaints from aggrieved members.
The judge held that since it is mandatory for any aggrieved governorship aspirant to explore internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching a court of law, the plaintiff was bound to comply with the rule like any other aspirant. This ruling reinforces the importance of adhering to party rules and procedures, which are designed to ensure fairness and order within the party.
“In a matter of this nature, conditions precedent must be respected and complied with by any aspirant as had severally enunciated by the Supreme Court in all its decisions,” the Judge held, and struck out the suit.
Emergence of Ighodalo
Dr. Asue Ighodalo, on February 22, emerged as the PDP governorship flag-bearer. Ighodalo, who is believed to be the preferred candidate of Governor Godwin Obaseki, secured 577 votes to defeat the other aspirants. He was declared the winner by the Chief Returning Officer of the Edo PDP Gubernatorial Primaries, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
The emergence of Ighodalo as the party’s candidate was a significant event, as it marked the culmination of a rigorous selection process. The primaries were held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, and they were closely watched by party members and political observers. Ighodalo’s victory was seen as a testament to his popularity and the support he enjoys within the party.
Ojezua’s Grievances
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the primaries, Anselm Ojezua dragged Ighodalo, PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to court. Among other things, he prayed the court to nullify the outcome of the primaries and void Ighodalo’s candidacy. Ojezua’s grievances were rooted in his belief that the primaries were not conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
The plaintiff contended that provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and guidelines of the party were grossly violated in the conduct of the primaries held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin. He alleged that a fake and adulterated delegates list was used in the conduct of the indirect primaries. These allegations, if proven, would have serious implications for the legitimacy of the primaries and the validity of Ighodalo’s candidacy.
Court’s Decision
However, the court found that Ojezua had not exhausted the internal mechanisms available within the PDP for resolving such disputes. Justice Egwuatu emphasized that the internal dispute resolution mechanism is a fundamental part of the party’s governance structure, and it must be utilized before seeking judicial intervention.
The judge’s decision to strike out the suit was based on the principle that internal party mechanisms should be the first port of call for aggrieved members. This principle is designed to ensure that parties can manage their own affairs and resolve disputes without resorting to the courts. By failing to follow this principle, Ojezua undermined the party’s ability to handle its own disputes.
Implications for Future Disputes
The ruling has significant implications for future disputes within political parties. It reinforces the importance of adhering to party rules and procedures and highlights the role of internal dispute resolution mechanisms in maintaining order and fairness within parties. Aspirants and party members are reminded that they must follow these procedures before seeking judicial intervention.
In conclusion, the Federal High Court’s decision to decline the disqualification of Dr. Asue Ighodalo from contesting the September 21 governorship election in Edo State underscores the importance of internal party mechanisms in resolving disputes. The ruling serves as a reminder to all party members of the need to respect and comply with party rules and procedures.
