By Jude Opara
The legal battle over the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket for the 2027 Edo South senatorial election will be determined on November 26, when the Federal High Court in Abuja delivers judgment in a suit filed by former lawmaker Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma.
Agbonayinma is challenging the party’s alleged substitution of his name with those of Osayuki Asemota and Sunday Aguebor as its candidate for the senatorial district.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date on Monday after lawyers representing Agbonayinma and the defendants adopted their respective court processes and presented their arguments.
The former House of Representatives member, who represented Egor/Ikpoba Federal Constituency, contends that he won the NDC’s May 29 Edo South senatorial primary after securing the highest number of lawful votes.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1250/2026, Agbonayinma is asking the court to nullify the nomination and submission of the name of either Asemota or Aguebor to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He is also seeking an order compelling the NDC to recognize him as the winner of the primary and submit his name to INEC as its candidate for the 2027 election.
Agbonayinma based his case on provisions of Section 285(14) of the 1999 Constitution, Sections 29 and 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as the NDC’s constitution and electoral guidelines.
In his affidavit, the former lawmaker maintained that he defeated all other aspirants at the primary and attached the purported result of the election as evidence.
He is consequently asking the court to permanently restrain the defendants from recognizing, presenting or sponsoring any other person as the NDC candidate for Edo South.
However, the disputed ticket has produced a competing claim from Aguebor, who in his counter-affidavit maintained that it was he who won the primary election.
Through his counsel, R.O. Isenalumhe, Aguebor urged the court to dismiss Agbonayinma’s claims and grant the reliefs sought in his own defence.
With the parties presenting conflicting accounts of the outcome of the primary, the November 26 judgment is expected to determine the immediate legal status of the NDC’s Edo South senatorial ticket
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