The Federal High Court sitting in Benin City on Tuesday sacked the candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Oredo Federal Constituency, Uyi Omosigho, and declared Omo-Osagie Efosa as the authentic candidate of the party in the constituency.

In the suit marked FHC/B/C/60/2026, Osagie Efosa Omo was the plaintiff, while Omosigho Uyi Frank, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Engr. David Olukoga, State Chairman of the NDC and chairman of the State Primaries and Nominations Committees, and Fredrick Endorokeme Owotorufa were the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Professor Chuka Obizor, frowned on what he described as frustrating tendencies of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during pre-election cases.

According to the judge, the issue of internal mechanisms in solving party primary crises could also be used to delay and frustrate aggrieved aspirants seeking redress.

Professor Obizor, who quoted various instances and constitutional backing in his ruling, said from all evidences 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 stressed that the leadership of the party could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the first defendant, Omosigho, participated in the primary election and won, unlike the plaintiff did.

He directed the party to declare the plaintiff as the winner and send his name to the INEC as the candidate of the party for Oredo Federal Constituency.

Reacting to the judgment, Efosa said it was a victory for the rule of law, just as he appreciated the national leader of the party, Senator Seriake Dickson, for the support.

He called on other aspirants to come together for the main election to ensure victory in the January 16th 2027 election.