By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja
The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the nomination of Hon. Onyeagucha Uchechukwu as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial candidate for Imo East Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general election, ordering the party to recognise Uche Nwole as its lawful candidate.
In a judgment delivered in Abuja, Justice Mohammed Garuba Umar directed the NDC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and accept Nwole as the party’s duly nominated candidate for the Imo East senatorial seat.
The court further ordered INEC to immediately publish Nwole’s name in the list of candidates for the January 16, 2027 election, in line with the treatment accorded to candidates of other political parties.
Justice Umar held that the court was satisfied that Nwole emerged as the bona fide winner of the party’s senatorial primary election, which was duly monitored by INEC.
The judge noted that, under Sections 84(1) and (2) and 86 of the Electoral Act 2026, the NDC was legally required to nominate Nwole and forward his name to INEC as its candidate for the election.
According to the court, having conducted a primary election monitored by INEC, the party could not lawfully disregard the outcome and substitute the winner with a consensus candidate.
The court consequently issued a perpetual injunction restraining the NDC from nominating or submitting any candidate other than Nwole for the Imo East senatorial contest.
It also barred INEC from accepting, listing or publishing the name of any purported NDC candidate who allegedly emerged from a primary election that was neither conducted nor monitored by the commission, as well as any consensus candidate whose nomination violated Sections 87(1) and (3) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The judgment followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1225/2026, in which the NDC, INEC and Hon. Onyeagucha Uchechukwu were listed as the first, second and third defendants respectively.
In the suit, Nwole alleged that despite securing the highest number of valid votes cast during the party’s primary election, the NDC sidelined him and instead recognised Onyeagucha as its flag bearer for the senatorial election.
After reviewing the evidence presented before the court, Justice Umar held that the plaintiff had established sufficient grounds for the reliefs sought. The court consequently granted all seven principal reliefs requested by Nwole.
Among the key declarations made by the court was that the NDC had conducted primary elections for aspirants seeking its ticket for the Imo East senatorial seat in the 2027 general election, and that the exercise was monitored by INEC in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The court further declared that, having conducted the primary election, the party could not lawfully nominate a consensus candidate for the same position in disregard of the outcome.
It also reaffirmed that the NDC, as a political party established under the law, was obligated to comply with its constitution, internal guidelines and regulations, as well as the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended.
In addition, the court ordered the party to immediately forward Nwole’s name to INEC as its duly elected candidate for the Imo East senatorial seat.
The perpetual injunction further prohibits the party from submitting any alternative candidate and restrains INEC from recognising or publishing any nomination that does not comply with the applicable electoral laws.
The ruling effectively nullifies Onyeagucha Uchechukwu’s recognition as the NDC senatorial candidate for Imo East and restores Uche Nwole as the party’s duly nominated flag bearer for the 2027 general election.