Ossai drags INEC, NDC, Asadu to court over Enugu North Senate ticket

Legal Dispute Arises Over Enugu North Senatorial Ticket of NDC

A legal dispute has emerged regarding the senatorial ticket for the Enugu North District of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as Bishop Ossai Okwudili, widely known as Oscar, has filed a petition with the Federal High Court in Abuja. His suit seeks to nullify the alleged substitution of his name with that of Rt. Hon. Asadu Patrick Oziokoja as the party’s candidate for the upcoming 2027 general election.

In documents filed on August 5, 2026, Ossai has joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the NDC, and Oziokoja as defendants in the case. He claims he won the NDC primary held on May 29, 2026, where he received the highest number of votes, asserting his rightful claim to the party’s nomination.

Ossai asserted that he became aware of the alleged substitution when he obtained a Certified True Copy of the candidate information uploaded to INEC on July 23, 2026, which revealed Oziokoja’s name instead of his.

The plaintiff is asking the court to rule on whether INEC can legally accept and publish the name of a candidate who did not emerge victorious in a party primary, particularly one that purportedly complied with the Electoral Act 2026, the party’s guidelines, and its constitution.

Furthermore, Ossai is contesting the legitimacy of the nomination process that led to Oziokoja’s selection and seeks clarification on whether NDC officials had the authority to submit another candidate’s name following his declared victory in the May primary.

Ossai has referenced an affidavit submitted by the NDC in a previous case that, he claims, acknowledges him as the primary winner. He is seeking several declarations from the court, including recognition as the NDC’s candidate for the Enugu North Senatorial District, an order to compel the NDC to submit his nomination documents to INEC, and a directive to set aside the alleged submission of Oziokoja’s name.

Additionally, he is requesting that the court prevent the defendants from recognizing Oziokoja or any other candidate as the NDC nominee for the district until the matter is resolved.

The case is being represented by F. M. Nworah of Bloom Lex Legal Practice in Abuja and is based on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and the NDC’s constitution. Earlier litigation, referenced in suits FHC/ABJ/CS/1249/2026 and FHC/ABJ/CS/1254/2026, supports Ossai’s claims to the party’s ticket.

This latest legal maneuver follows a prior challenge, initiated by Dr. Vincent Obetta, questioning Ossai’s candidacy resulting from the May primary. In response, the NDC’s counter-affidavit affirmed that Ossai was the primary winner, noting that the process was conducted according to established guidelines and laws.

Ossai criticized the NDC leadership’s alleged attempt at substitution, questioning its inconsistency with the party’s previous assertions in court regarding his victory. He expressed confidence in the judicial system, referring to it as the “last hope of the common man.”

The court has instructed the defendants to file their responses within seven days of being served with the summons and to submit their counter-affidavit within a ten-day window as stipulated in the 2026 Practice Direction. The outcome of this suit will clarify the competing claims surrounding the NDC’s Enugu North Senatorial District ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.

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