2027: Omo-Agege’s NDC Ticket Under Scrutiny as Fegor Ogene Demands Answers from INEC …Seeks Clarification on APC Resignation, Primary Participation, Membership Register and Party Waiver

A concerned citizen and public affairs commentator, Fegor Ogene, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify the legal and administrative basis for including Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Delta Central Senatorial District, on its published list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

Ogene, in an open letter addressed to the INEC Chairman, raised questions about Omo-Agege’s reported resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), his alleged participation in the party’s senatorial primary and his subsequent nomination as the NDC candidate for Delta Central.

He urged the electoral commission to explain whether it examined the relevant party membership records and nomination documents in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the Supreme Court judgment of September 24, 2026.

The letter, however, clarified that the Supreme Court did not specifically order Omo-Agege’s disqualification, stressing that the request was intended to establish whether the applicable statutory requirements had been properly assessed before his name was published.

Ogene’s concerns centre on the Supreme Court’s restoration of Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which address political party membership registers and candidate nomination procedures.

He argued that the judgment made it necessary to establish whether the relevant membership and nomination requirements were observed in Omo-Agege’s case.

One of the key issues raised in the letter is the reported date of Omo-Agege’s resignation from the APC and his participation in the party’s senatorial primary.

Ogene questioned how the senator could have participated in the APC primary reportedly held on May 18, 2026, if his resignation from the party had taken effect on May 5, 2026.

He, however, noted that different accounts had cited May 22, 2026, as the resignation date, insisting that the discrepancy needed to be resolved through documentary evidence rather than political arguments.

The letter asked INEC to clarify the actual date of the resignation, whether the letter was delivered to the appropriate APC ward authority and what records established Omo-Agege’s membership status at the time of the reported primary.

It also requested clarification on whether Omo-Agege participated in the APC primary and, if so, in what capacity.

Another major issue raised by the commentator concerns the NDC membership register reportedly submitted to INEC before the applicable deadline.

Ogene said Omo-Agege had reportedly maintained that his name appeared on the NDC membership register submitted to the commission before May 10, 2026.

He called on INEC to confirm whether the senator’s name appeared on the original register, the membership date recorded against it and whether the document was submitted within the period prescribed by law.

According to him, verifying the original register would help establish the documentary basis for assessing the senator’s membership status and subsequent nomination.

He stressed that the senator’s reported claim should neither be accepted nor dismissed without examining the relevant records.

The open letter also questioned the legal implications of a waiver reportedly granted to Omo-Agege by the NDC in connection with his nomination.

Ogene maintained that a political party’s decision to grant a waiver and a candidate’s compliance with statutory requirements were separate matters that required independent consideration.

He therefore asked INEC to clarify whether it examined the waiver, the legal basis for accepting it and whether it addressed an internal party requirement or a statutory condition under the Electoral Act.

The commentator further urged the commission to explain whether it examined the documents relating to the NDC’s reported consensus nomination and assessed them against the provisions of the law restored by the Supreme Court.

On INEC’s publication of the final senatorial candidates list containing the names of Omo-Agege and the All Progressives Congress candidate, Senator Ede Dafinone, Ogene said the publication should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that every legal question concerning a nomination had been conclusively resolved.

He emphasised that the Supreme Court judgment did not specifically disqualify Omo-Agege, adding that the judgment should also not be interpreted as automatically validating every nomination submitted to the electoral commission.

Ogene called for equal application of the law to all candidates, regardless of political affiliation, influence or previous public office.

He said neither Omo-Agege nor Dafinone should be presumed to have violated the law merely because questions had been raised about a nomination, adding that all relevant issues should be determined by reference to documentary evidence and applicable legal provisions.

In his specific requests, Ogene asked INEC to confirm the date the NDC submitted its original membership register, whether Omo-Agege’s name appeared on it and how the commission assessed the relevant membership record.

He also requested clarification on the senator’s reported APC resignation, his participation in the party’s primary, the NDC waiver, the consensus nomination documents and the administrative and legal basis for including his name on the published candidates list.

The letter further asked the commission to state whether any administrative review or relevant legal proceedings concerning the nomination were pending, to the extent that such information could lawfully be disclosed.

Ogene said any information protected by law could be withheld, but urged INEC to provide the maximum permissible explanation necessary to clarify its decision.

He maintained that his intervention was not intended to promote one candidate or undermine another but to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The issue is not whether one candidate should be celebrated or another politically embarrassed. The issue is whether the same law applies to everyone,” he stated.

He urged INEC to issue a clear and reasoned response addressing the questions raised, arguing that transparency in the handling of party nominations was essential to public confidence in the credibility of the electoral process.