By Tony Okafor, Awka
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Chidi Okoye challenging the nomination of Senator Victor Umeh as the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for Anambra Central Senatorial District in the January 16, 2027 National Assembly election.
The court, presided over by Honourable Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, dismissed the suit following its consideration of the issues raised in the case and the evidence presented before it.
In its ruling, the court held, among other reasons, that the dispute concerned the internal affairs of the political party and was therefore not justiciable.
The court subsequently upheld the nomination of Senator Umeh as the NDC candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District, relying on the preponderance of evidence before it.
The judgment represents a significant legal victory for Umeh, whose nomination was challenged by Okoye following the party’s senatorial primary election conducted on May 29, 2026.
The suit arose from the primary election through which the NDC nominated Umeh to represent the party in the contest for Anambra Central Senatorial District in the forthcoming National Assembly election.
Okoye had approached the court to challenge Umeh’s nomination, seeking judicial intervention in the dispute surrounding the party’s choice of candidate.
However, the court’s decision to dismiss the suit effectively upholds Umeh’s nomination in the matter before it.
With the court dismissing the challenge, Umeh retains his position as the NDC’s nominated candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District ahead of the January 16, 2027 National Assembly election.
The ruling marks an important development in the political contest for the senatorial seat and provides a boost to Umeh’s candidacy as political activities gather momentum ahead of the polls.
The judgment also underscores the role of the courts in determining the justiciability of disputes arising from political party primaries and the nomination of candidates for elective offices.
