Court Reserves Judgment in Akpodiete’s Suit Challenging Omo-Agege’s NDC Candidacy

The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has fixed November 24, 2026, for judgment in a suit seeking to disqualify former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) primary election held on May 29, 2026.

The suit, marked FHC/WR/CS/120/2026, was instituted by Prof. Alexander Osondu Akpodiete, who is asking the court to disqualify Omo-Agege and declare him the rightful candidate of the NDC for the Delta Central Senatorial District.

Justice Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa reserved judgment after hearing arguments from counsel representing the parties, including the NDC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Proceedings reportedly witnessed a moment of courtroom drama when counsel to Omo-Agege told the court that the former Deputy Senate President resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 5, 2026, joined the NDC the same day and did not participate in the APC senatorial primary conducted on May 18.

However, Akpodiete disputed the account, insisting that Omo-Agege participated in the May 18 APC primary, publicly declared himself a participant and subsequently claimed victory in media interviews, including appearances on Arise Television and other national platforms.

The conflicting submissions reportedly prompted the presiding judge to question how a politician who allegedly resigned from the APC on May 5 could have participated in the party’s primary on May 18 and later claimed victory.

The question reportedly elicited laughter in the courtroom, drawing attention to the disputed circumstances surrounding Omo-Agege’s alleged resignation from the APC and his subsequent emergence as an NDC aspirant.

At the centre of the legal dispute is the question of whether Omo-Agege’s alleged party membership and participation in the APC primary have any implications for his eligibility to contest the NDC primary, particularly in relation to the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act concerning party membership and the required timelines for political party activities.

Akpodiete is asking the court to determine the legal implications of the disputed dates and circumstances surrounding Omo-Agege’s party membership, resignation and participation in the primary elections.

He is also seeking an order declaring him the rightful NDC candidate for the Delta Central Senatorial District.

The court’s forthcoming judgment is expected to resolve the substantive issues raised by the parties and determine the legal questions surrounding the challenge to Omo-Agege’s candidacy.

Until the court delivers its decision on November 24, the dispute leaves the legal status of Omo-Agege’s emergence as the NDC candidate for Delta Central subject to judicial determination.