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 election.
Justice Mohammed Umar gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit involving the NDC, INEC and Hon. Onyeagucha Uchechukwu.
The court directed the party to forward Nwole’s name, ruling that he emerged from a primary election conducted in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and monitored by INEC.
Justice Umar also ordered INEC to accept, enlist and publish Nwole’s name on the final list of candidates for the Imo East senatorial seat.
In addition, the court issued a perpetual injunction restraining the NDC from submitting any other candidate for the position.
It also restrained INEC from accepting or publishing the name of any purported NDC candidate allegedly produced through a primary election that was neither conducted nor monitored by the commission, or through a consensus arrangement that contravened the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The court held that the NDC had conducted INEC-monitored primaries for aspirants seeking its Imo East senatorial ticket and could not subsequently replace the outcome with a consensus candidate.
It further ruled that Nwole had satisfied the statutory requirements to participate in the direct primary election and emerge as the party’s candidate.
The judgment effectively directs the NDC and INEC to recognise Nwole as the party’s candidate for the Imo East Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general election.
Written by Enitan Mudashiru
