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There is palpable anxiety among supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Imo East Senatorial Zone, as a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to accept any candidate presented by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Imo East Senatorial District (Owerri Zone) following a dispute over the party’s primary election.
Justice I. N. Oweibo of Court 1 delivered the judgment on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, in a suit filed by five senatorial aspirants who challenged the party’s alleged failure to conduct a valid primary election for the Owerri Zone senatorial ticket.
The plaintiffs reportedly purchased the party’s expression of interest forms and were screened by the NDC ahead of the exercise. They also alleged that each aspirant paid N20 million as a development fee, but the party failed to conduct what they considered a proper primary election.
In his judgment, Justice Oweibo held that the NDC did not conduct a primary election for the Imo East Senatorial District in accordance with the process expected of the party.
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The court consequently ordered INEC not to accept any candidate submitted by the NDC for the Imo East Senate seat on the basis of the disputed process.
Recall that the party had earlier submitted the name of the former Secretary to the Imo State Government and House of Representatives member, Rt Hon Uche Onyeaguocha, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for Imo East (Owerri) senatorial zone, and it was subsequently published by the commission as the candidate of the party for the National Assembly polls on January 16, 2027.
