The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to immediately submit the name of Uche Nwole to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its duly elected candidate for the Imo East Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.
The order followed a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar, who granted the reliefs sought by Nwole in a suit against the NDC, INEC and Hon. Uchechukwu Onyeagucha.
In its ruling, the court directed the NDC to forward Nwole’s name to INEC without further delay, affirming that he emerged winner of the party’s primary election conducted under the supervision of the electoral commission.
The judge held that the primary election was conducted in compliance with Sections 84(1) and (2), as well as Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026.
The court consequently directed INEC to immediately accept, enlist and publish Nwole’s name in the final list of candidates for the Imo East Senatorial District seat.
It also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the NDC from submitting or nominating any other person as its candidate for the senatorial district.
Similarly, INEC was restrained from accepting, listing or publishing the name of any other purported NDC candidate who allegedly emerged from a primary election that was neither conducted nor monitored by the commission.
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The court also barred the electoral body from recognising any purported consensus candidate whose nomination violated Sections 87(1) and (3) of the Electoral Act 2026.
Justice Umar held that the NDC had conducted primary elections for aspirants seeking its ticket for the Imo East Senatorial District, with INEC monitoring the exercise.
He further ruled that having conducted the primaries, the party could not subsequently nominate a consensus candidate for the same seat.
The court also found that Nwole had satisfied all statutory requirements to participate in the party’s direct primary election and emerge as its candidate for the 2027 senatorial contest.
