A Delta State politician has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the outcome of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship primary election in Delta State, seeking to be declared the rightful winner of the exercise.
Hon. Ejaife Omizu Odebala filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1636/2026, against the NDC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and four others, asking the court to nullify the candidacy of Chris Iyavwoye, who was declared the winner of the primary held on May 29, 2026.
This Day reported that the suit, dated July 29, 2026, was filed by a legal team led by Fredricks Itula, SAN. The respondents are Chris Iyavwoye, the NDC, INEC, Alice Ogba, Hon. Francis Atanomeyovwi, and Ogbo Johnson, named as the first to sixth respondents, respectively.
Odebala's Claims in the Suit
In his supporting affidavit, Odebala said the party conducted the primary in 24 of the state's 25 local government areas, and that results were collated at the LGA level. However, he argued that no final collation was carried out at the state level and that the NDC did not submit any final collated results to INEC on the day of the primary.
He said his agents monitored the process at each LGA, and that he expected to be declared the winner, but the party did not do so. According to him, a proper collation of votes, including figures from Ughelli North, Okpe, and Isoko North LGAs, would give him a total of 15,454 votes against Iyavwoye's 12,015 votes.
Odebala is seeking a court declaration that the NDC cannot lawfully submit the name of any other person, including that of the 1st respondent, Chris Iyavwoye, to INEC as the party's candidate for the 2027 Delta State governorship election. He wants the court to compel the NDC and INEC to replace any name already submitted with his own.
What Odebala is Asking the Court to Do
He also wants an order stopping Iyavwoye from presenting himself as the NDC's governorship candidate. His legal team argued that Odebala would be "greatly prejudiced" if INEC unlawfully recognises the 1st respondent as the NDC's governorship candidate, and urged the court to rule in his favour on the basis that he polled the highest number of votes.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu is presiding over the matter, which is adjourned to September 7, 2026, for further proceedings.
Context of the NDC's 2027 Ticket
Peter Obi, who joined the NDC as its presidential candidate following his resignation from the African Democratic Congress on May 2, 2026, and his ratification by the party on May 29, 2026, leads the NDC's ticket for the 2027 general elections.
The court's decision on September 7, 2026, will determine whether Odebala's claim to the NDC's Delta State governorship ticket is upheld, potentially reshaping the party's candidate for the 2027 election.
