Impeached Deputy Governor of Edo, Mr Philip Shaibu, said on Tuesday that he would challenge the emergence of Asue Ighodalo as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate for the upcoming state election to the highest judicial level.

WORLD WIDE GIST recalls that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday dismissed a suit filed by the impeached Deputy Governor seeking to nullify the February 22 governorship primary that produced Ighodalo as the PDP candidate.

Justice James Omotosho, in the judgment, held that Shaibu lacked the legal right to challenge the outcome of the primary on the grounds that he did not fully participate in the exercise.

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

However, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, Shaibu said he would continue to challenge the emergence of Ighadalo because he did not win the primary.

“I won the election with the authentic delegates. I am sure and confident that the court will do the right thing.

Concerning what happened on Monday (Abuja High Court ruling), my lawyers are looking into it, and by the grace of God, I can bet you, because I believe in the judiciary, that justice will be served.

‘’I believe that the judiciary is not what they say it is. I believe that we have a judiciary that will deliver justice in the issue between Ighodalo and me, and the issue of my impeachment,’’ he said.

The Labor Party, LP, Caucus in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, said Nigeria’s economy has “dangerously continued” in a free fall since President Bola Tinubu assumed office one year ago.

The lawmakers said the situation is “casting a cloud of doubt” on Tinubu’s capacity to rescue Nigeria.

They made the remark in a statement signed by their leader, Afam Ogene.

The lawmakers said the rising insecurity and economic hardship in the country negates Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda promise to Nigerians.

The statement reads partly: “Our Caucus had taken a backseat in the patriotic hope that, maybe, just maybe, the beneficiary administration would be able to wrought magic and pull the nation from the precipice of economic annihilation.

“But, as can be obviously felt by the blind and seen by the deaf, the entire country has, after one year, come to the full and unambiguous understanding of what President Bola Tinubu meant when he said that his administration would continue with the legacies of his predecessor.

“The current staggering negative economic indices should alarm every Nigerian, as it has left many previous optimists, including ourselves, in glaring shock.”

The lawmakers charged Tinubu to “urgently” prioritize minimizing the suffering of Nigerians by ensuring food security, access to clean water, healthcare, and education.

“Tackling poverty and guaranteeing these necessities are pivotal to the sustenance of peace in the nation.

“We also call on the government to intensify the fight against corruption, with transparent governance and accountability being paramount.

“We also warn that the government should desist from throwing the nation to the whims of foreign financial institutions, whose policies in developing countries are often anti-people,” the statement added.

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, said it was good that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo hailed the removal of fuel subsidy and harmonization of the FX rates by President Bola Tinubu.

The ruling party said this while reacting to Obasanjo’s recent criticism of some of Tinubu’s policies.

While noting that the tough policies needed to put the nation on track would undoubtedly have some immediate harsh effects, it said the Tinubu-led Federal Government had taken steps to mitigate such impacts.

WORLD WIDE GIST reports that Obasanjo had in a statement on Sunday said some of Tinubu’s key policies were necessary but wrongly implemented.

He particularly stressed that Tinubu’s policies on fuel subsidy removal and exchange rates had adversely affected the Nigerian economy.

According to Obasanjo, the effects of the policies are pushing foreign investors away from Nigeria.

He argued that “the present administration has not found the right way to handle the economy to engender confidence and trust for investors to start trooping in”.

“Today, the government has taken three decisions, two of which are necessary but wrongly implemented and have led to the impoverisation of the economy and of Nigerians. These are removal of subsidies, closing the gap between the black market and official rates of exchange and the third is dealing with a military coup in Niger Republic,” Obasanjo added.

However, the APC said that the policies were necessary, as rightly stated by the former President.

A statement issued by APC spokesman, Felix Morka, said, “Obasanjo rightly agreed that the policy of fuel subsidy removal and harmonization of the FX rates are very good policies.

“Government is now taking the step to right the impact of the two major policies which although healthy and necessary have impacted on the citizens.”