The Federal High Court in Abuja, has fixed November 26, 2026, for judgment in a suit challenging the nomination of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the 2027 Edo South Senatorial District election.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date on Monday, after counsel for the plaintiff, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, and lawyers representing the defendants adopted their respective processes and advanced arguments for and against the suit.
Agbonayinma, a former member of the House of Representatives representing Egor/Ikpoba Federal Constituency, instituted the suit to challenge the alleged substitution of his name with that of Mrs. Osayuki Asemota and Sunday Aguebor following the party’s Edo South senatorial primary.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1250/2026, lists the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), NDC, Asemota and Aguebor as the first to fourth defendants respectively.
At Monday’s proceedings, the plaintiff’s counsel, Ayuba Antivas, urged the court to grant the reliefs sought by his client, while counsel to the defendants argued against the claims.
Agbonayinma is asking the court to declare him the winner of the NDC’s May 29 Edo South senatorial primary, alleging that he secured the highest number of lawful votes cast at the exercise.
In his affidavit, the former lawmaker said he participated in the primary and defeated the other contestants, adding that the result of the election was attached to his processes as Exhibit F.
He contended that his claim was supported by Section 285(14) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Sections 29 and 84(14) of the Electoral Act 2026, as amended, as well as the NDC’s constitution and guidelines.
Agbonayinma is asking the court to set aside the declaration, nomination and submission of the name of either the third or fourth defendant to INEC as the NDC’s candidate for Edo South.
He is also seeking an order directing the NDC to recognise and declare him the winner of the primary and submit his name to INEC as the party’s duly nominated candidate for the senatorial election.
In addition, he wants the court to permanently restrain the defendants from recognising, presenting or sponsoring any person other than him as the NDC’s candidate for Edo South Senatorial District.
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However, Aguebor, in a counter-affidavit filed through his counsel, R.O. Isenalumhe, disputed Agbonayinma’s account of the primary.
Aguebor maintained that he defeated Agbonayinma in the senatorial primary and urged the court to dismiss the plaintiff’s claims and grant the reliefs sought in his own processes.
With the parties having adopted their processes and made their respective submissions, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter for judgment on November 26.
