The Federal High Court in Abuja has reaffirmed the importance of compliance with electoral procedures in party nominations, ordering the Nigeria Democratic Congress to recognise Uche Nwole as its candidate for the Imo East Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections. The ruling followed a dispute over the party’s primary election and a subsequent attempt to nominate another candidate.
Delivering judgment, Justice Mohammed Umar directed the NDC to forward Nwole’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission without delay. The judge also ordered INEC to accept and publish his name in the final list of candidates for the senatorial seat.
The court held that Nwole emerged winner of the party’s direct primary, which was conducted under INEC’s supervision. It ruled that the exercise complied with Sections 84(1), 84(2) and 86 of the Electoral Act 2026, adding that Nwole had fulfilled the statutory requirements to contest the primary.
Justice Umar further ruled that the party could not conduct a primary election and subsequently replace its outcome with a consensus nomination for the same position. According to the court, having held the monitored exercise, the NDC was bound by the result.
The judgment also placed restrictions on INEC, barring the commission from accepting, listing or publishing the name of another person presented as the NDC candidate for the district. The restriction extends to any purported consensus nominee whose emergence contravenes Sections 87(1) and 87(3) of the Electoral Act 2026.
In addition, the court issued a perpetual injunction preventing the NDC from submitting or nominating any other person for the Imo East senatorial ticket. The orders followed a suit filed by Nwole against the party, INEC and Uchechukwu Onyeagucha, in which he sought recognition as the winner of the primary.
The decision places responsibility on both the party and the electoral commission to give effect to the court’s determination as preparations continue for the 2027 elections. It also underscores the legal significance of monitored party primaries in resolving disputes over candidate selection.
