Court Confirms Service in Victor Nwaigwe’s Pre-Election Suit, Adjourns to October 15 -

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Court Confirms Service in Victor Nwaigwe’s Pre-Election Suit, Adjourns to October 15

— As plaintiff’s counsel calls for calm

The Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, confirmed proof of service on the defendants in a pre-election suit instituted by Toochukwu Nwaigwe Victor against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and Opara Chijioke Emmanuel.

Following confirmation of service, the court adjourned the matter to Thursday, October 15, 2026, for further proceedings.

The suit, which is before the Federal High Court, Owerri Division, challenges the recognition of the third defendant, Opara Chijioke Emmanuel, by INEC as the candidate of the NDC for the Isiala Mbano State Constituency.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, the court confirmed that the defendants had been duly served with the processes in the suit, paving the way for the matter to proceed at the next adjourned date.

Speaking after the court session, lead counsel to the plaintiff, C. E. Onwubuariri, Esq., urged supporters of the plaintiff to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while the judicial process runs its course.

Onwubuariri expressed confidence in the ability of the court to dispense justice based on the facts and applicable law, and appealed to the plaintiff’s supporters to await the outcome of the proceedings peacefully.

The plaintiff, Toochukwu Nwaigwe Victor, instituted the pre-election action challenging the nomination and recognition of the third defendant as the NDC candidate for the Isiala Mbano State Constituency.

In his claim, the plaintiff contends that he participated in and emerged as the winner of the NDC primary election conducted on March 29, 2026.

He further alleges that the third defendant did not participate in the said primary election, and therefore contends that the subsequent nomination of the third defendant by the party and his recognition by INEC as the party’s candidate were unlawful.

The crux of the dispute before the court is, therefore, whether the nomination and recognition of the third defendant as the NDC candidate can validly stand, having regard to the plaintiff’s claim that he emerged as the duly elected winner of the party’s primary election.

Consequently, the plaintiff is seeking, among other reliefs, a declaration that he is the duly nominated and authentic candidate of the NDC for the Isiala Mbano State Constituency.

The suit effectively calls on the court to determine, on the basis of the evidence before it and the applicable provisions of law, whether the third defendant was validly nominated and recognised as the party’s candidate or whether the plaintiff, having allegedly emerged victorious at the primary election, is entitled to the party’s ticket.

With the confirmation of service and the subsequent adjournment to October 15, the matter is expected to progress to the next stage of proceedings, where the parties will have the opportunity to advance their respective positions before the court.