The Federal High Court in Abuja has heard a pre-election suit challenging the outcome of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) primary election for the Edo South Senatorial District.
The case, heard before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, was instituted by Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, who is asking the court to declare him the valid winner of the primary held on May 29, 2026.
Agbonayinma alleges that the results recorded and counted at various polling and collation points were subsequently manipulated, falsified or substituted.
In his suit, the plaintiff states that he obtained the NDC Expression of Interest Form, fulfilled the required conditions and was cleared to participate in the primary.
He further claims that he scored the highest number of lawful votes after the results were computed and counted across the Local Government Areas that make up Edo South Senatorial District.
The plaintiff is challenging what he describes as the subsequent alteration, falsification and substitution of the lawful results of the primary.
He is asking the court to determine whether the alleged actions complied with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, the NDC Constitution and the party’s guidelines for the conduct of primary elections.
Speaking on the matter, counsel to Agbonayinma, Ayuba Antifas, expressed confidence that the court would do justice in the case.
In a separate counter-affidavit and counter-claim, the fourth defendant, Hon. Sunday Toscar Aguebor, said he is also a registered member of the NDC and participated in the primary.
Aguebor stated that he obtained the party’s nomination form, completed the required electoral documents and took steps to have his name submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as the party’s candidate for the 2027 Edo South Senatorial election.
Agbonayinma is asking the court to declare the alleged alteration or substitution of the primary results unlawful, null and void.
He is also seeking an order recognising him as the validly elected NDC candidate for the Edo South Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.
The matter was adjourned to November 26, 2026, for judgment.
Ubong Usoro for Nigeria Magazine
