A lawyer, Obunike Ohaegbu, has filed a suit against the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over the alleged refusal to announce the result of the primary election for the Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency of Anambra State. The suit was filed in the Federal High Court in Abuja. Mr Ohaegbu participated in the primary election conducted in May 2026 to nominate the NDC's candidate for the 2027 general election. He claims to have scored the majority of the lawful votes cast at the poll.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1219/26, lists five defendants: the NDC, Ebere Onunkwo, Socrates Ebo, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Peter Uzokwe. Mr Ohaegbu alleged that the NDC refused to declare the result at the venue and instead secretly adopted Mr Uzokwe as its candidate for the constituency. This, he claims, breached the party's primary election guidelines. The plaintiff is seeking several orders from the court to compel the NDC to declare him the winner of the primary election.
Mr Ohaegbu is seeking an order directing the NDC to declare him the winner of the primary election conducted for the constituency. He is also seeking an order compelling the party to submit and upload his name and particulars to INEC as its duly nominated candidate for the constituency. Additionally, the plaintiff wants the court to restrain the NDC, its officers, agents, or privies from submitting or recognising any other person as its candidate for the constituency.
The plaintiff also seeks an order restraining INEC from accepting, recognising, publishing, or acting upon the name of any person other than him as the party's candidate for the constituency. At Monday's proceedings, the hearing could not go on as the court discovered that the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th defendants had not been served with the mandatory hearing notice and were not in court. The plaintiff's counsel, Ifeanyi Nrilike, confirmed that the parties had filed and exchanged the necessary processes.
Justice Mohammed Umar directed that hearing notices be served on the absent defendants. The judge consequently adjourned the matter until 14 October for hearing. He ordered that evidence of service of the hearing notice on all the parties must be presented before the adjourned date. The court's decision allows the parties to prepare for the hearing and ensures that all defendants are properly notified.
The case highlights the internal conflicts within the NDC and the importance of adhering to party guidelines during primary elections. The outcome of this case may have implications for the party's candidate selection process and its participation in the 2027 general election. The court's decision on 14 October will be crucial in determining the next steps in this matter.
Key points
- The plaintiff, Obunike Ohaegbu, claims he scored the majority of votes in the primary election.
- The NDC allegedly refused to declare the primary election result and secretly adopted another candidate.
- The court adjourned the matter until 14 October, requiring evidence of service of the hearing notice on all parties.
