Lawyer asks court to compel NDC to declare Anambra primary winner
Lawyer Obunike Ohaegbu has sued the Nigeria Democratic Congress over its alleged failure to announce the result of a May primary for an Anambra federal constituency. He says he won the poll but that the party instead adopted another candidate. The Federal High Court adjourned the case until October 14.
Lawyer Obunike Ohaegbu has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the Nigeria Democratic Congress to announce him as the winner of its primary election for the Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency of Anambra State. Ohaegbu filed the suit against five defendants: the NDC, Ebere Onunkwo, Socrates Ebo, the Independent National Electoral Commission and Peter Uzokwe. The case is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1219/26.
The plaintiff said he took part in the primary conducted in May 2026 and secured the majority of lawful votes. He alleged that the party did not declare a result at the venue and instead secretly adopted Uzokwe as its candidate for the 2027 general election. Ohaegbu’s claims have not been tested or determined by the court.
He is seeking an order directing the NDC to declare him the winner and submit his name and particulars to INEC as its nominated candidate for the constituency. He is also asking the court to restrain the party, its officials, agents and representatives from submitting or recognising anyone else as its candidate. A further request seeks to prevent INEC from accepting, recognising, publishing or acting on the name of any other person as the NDC candidate.
The case could not proceed at Monday’s hearing because the court found that the second, third and fifth defendants had not been served with the mandatory hearing notice and were absent. Ohaegbu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Nrilike, told Justice Mohammed Umar that the parties had filed and exchanged the relevant court processes. Justice Umar ordered that hearing notices be served on the absent defendants and directed that proof of service be presented before the next hearing.
The judge adjourned the matter until October 14.
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