The camp of former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege has accused supporters of Delta Central Senator Ede Dafinone of sponsoring a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) challenging Omo-Agege’s eligibility to contest the 2027 senatorial election on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). In a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Sunny Areh, Omo-Agege’s camp dismissed the petition as politically motivated, insisting that the former lawmaker complied with applicable electoral laws and party requirements.
Key Highlights
- Ovie Omo-Agege’s camp alleges that Ede Dafinone’s supporters are behind a petition challenging his eligibility to contest the 2027 election.
- Omo-Agege is seeking the Delta Central Senatorial District seat under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
- His camp insists that he properly resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) before joining the NDC.
- The statement says the NDC granted waivers to some candidates to prevent possible internal disputes.
- Omo-Agege’s camp argues that the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026 judgment did not disqualify him.
- The statement says INEC has included Omo-Agege on its published list of candidates for the 2027 elections.
- Dafinone’s camp was not represented in the statement, and the specific allegations contained in the petition were not reproduced.
Omo-Agege’s Camp Reacts to INEC Eligibility Petition
In the statement, Areh described the petition submitted to INEC as an attempt to undermine Omo-Agege’s candidacy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The media adviser alleged that individuals associated with Dafinone were sponsoring the challenge, arguing that the move would not affect the validity of Omo-Agege’s nomination.
The statement accused Dafinone’s camp of attempting to use petitions and public controversy to challenge the former deputy Senate president rather than relying on the electoral process.
However, the statement did not provide the full text of the petition, identify its formal signatories or reproduce the specific legal grounds on which Omo-Agege’s eligibility is being challenged.
The allegation that Dafinone’s camp sponsored the petition remains the position of Omo-Agege’s camp and has not been independently established in the information available.
Omo-Agege Insists He Complied With Electoral Laws
Areh maintained that Omo-Agege properly resigned from the All Progressives Congress before joining the NDC.
He also insisted that the former lawmaker’s membership of the NDC was valid and that the party had submitted the required information to INEC in accordance with applicable rules.
According to the statement, the NDC took steps under its constitution to protect the nominations of its candidates, including granting waivers to some aspirants to minimise the risk of internal disputes.
Omo-Agege’s camp argued that these measures were legitimate internal party arrangements and should not be used to undermine his nomination.
Whether the relevant party membership, resignation and waiver requirements have been fully satisfied in this particular case would depend on the applicable legal provisions and the documents submitted to INEC.
Camp Cites Supreme Court Judgment on Electoral Act
The statement also referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment of September 24, 2026, concerning provisions of the Electoral Act.
Areh argued that the judgment did not disqualify Omo-Agege and maintained that his candidacy complied with the legal requirements applicable to the 2027 elections.
The media adviser criticised what he described as attempts to use the judgment to challenge a candidate whose name had already appeared on INEC’s published list.
However, the publication of a candidate’s name on an electoral list does not, by itself, resolve every possible legal challenge to that candidate’s eligibility. The effect of the Supreme Court judgment on Omo-Agege’s nomination would need to be assessed against the judgment’s actual wording, the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the facts of the case.
INEC Candidate List Becomes Part of the Dispute
Omo-Agege’s camp said INEC had completed its review of submissions from political parties and published the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
According to the statement, Omo-Agege’s name appeared on the National Assembly candidates’ list as the NDC’s nominee for Delta Central Senatorial District.
The camp described the listing as confirmation of the validity of his candidacy.
However, the legal significance of the published list must be considered alongside the applicable electoral laws and any formal petitions or court proceedings that may arise.
The specific status of the petition against Omo-Agege was not clarified in the statement.
Read also:
- Omo-Agege’s Two Purported APC Resignation Letters Raise Questions Over Dates, Primary Participation
- Omo-Agege Insists 2027 Senate Bid Is Alive as INEC Ruling Sparks Membership Register Dispute
- Electoral Act 2026: Omo-Agege, Ochei, Other Defectors Face Fresh Test After Supreme Court Ruling
Omo-Agege’s Camp Attacks Dafinone’s Senate Record
Beyond the legal dispute, the statement launched a political attack on Dafinone’s performance as senator representing Delta Central.
Areh accused the incumbent senator of failing to deliver adequately for the Urhobo people and argued that the 2027 election should be decided by voters based on the candidates’ records of service.
The statement claimed that Omo-Agege had previously fought for the interests of the Urhobo Nation and described his candidacy as an opportunity to address what it characterised as declining political influence and development in the area.
These comments represent the political position of Omo-Agege’s camp. The statement did not provide supporting performance data or a response from Dafinone addressing the criticism.
Omo-Agege’s Camp Challenges Dafinone to Face Him at the Polls
Areh urged Dafinone to focus on the election campaign rather than pursuing petitions against Omo-Agege.
He argued that both candidates should present their records to voters and allow the electorate to decide who should represent Delta Central in the Senate.
The statement also maintained that Omo-Agege would continue his campaign despite the controversy, insisting that his team would not be distracted by the eligibility challenge.
The exchange signals an intensifying political contest in Delta Central ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the candidates’ eligibility, party nominations and legislative records emerging as potential campaign issues.
Delta Central 2027 Race Faces Further Legal Scrutiny
The dispute over Omo-Agege’s eligibility adds another dimension to preparations for the 2027 senatorial election in Delta Central.
While Omo-Agege’s camp insists that he met the requirements for nomination and accuses Dafinone’s supporters of sponsoring the petition, the precise grounds of the challenge and its procedural status remain unclear.
A clearer assessment will require the petition itself, the relevant INEC records and any official response from Dafinone’s camp or the electoral commission.
Until those details are established, the allegations and counterclaims should be treated as competing political positions rather than settled findings.
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