Eniola Yekini
The Federal High Court sitting in Benin City on Tuesday sacked the candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, for Oredo Federal Constituency, Uyi Omosigho, and declared Omo-Osagie Efosa, popularly called Mighty Man, as the authentic candidate of the party.
The presiding judge, Professor Chuka Obizor, gave the ruling in suit marked FHC/B/C/60/2026 between Omo-Osagie as plaintiff and Omosigho Uyi Frank, Nigerian Democratic Congress, Independent National Electoral Commission, David Olukoga, State Chairman of NDC, and Mr Frederick Endorokeme Owotorufa, Chairman of the State Primary and Nominations Committees, as 1st to 5th defendants.
The judge frowned on what he described as frustrating tendencies of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, during pre-election cases.
“The issue of internal mechanism in solving party primary crises could also be used to delay and frustrate aggrieved aspirants seeking redress,” he said.
Quoting various instances and constitutional backing, Obizor said from all evidence before him, “it was obvious that the plaintiff participated in the primary election as confirmed and endorsed by the returning officers and the Chairmen of all the 12 wards in Oredo Federal Constituency.”
He said the leadership of the party could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the first defendant, Omosigho, participated in the primary and won, unlike the plaintiff.
He directed the party to declare Omo-Osagie winner and submit his name to INEC as the party’s candidate for Oredo Federal Constituency.
Reacting, Omo-Osagie described the judgment as victory for the rule of law.
“This was a victory for the rule of law, and I appreciate the national leader of the party, Senator Seriake Dickson, for the support. I also call on other aspirants to come together for the general election to ensure victory in the January 16th 2027 election,” he said.