The Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division will tomorrow, Monday 1st September 2026, commence hearing in a pre-election suit filed by *Dr. Igbinosa Ogbeide-Ihama* challenging the nomination and submission of *Hon. Frank Omosigho* as the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, for Oredo Federal Constituency.
The suit, *FHC/ABJ/C8/1859/2026*, has the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and Hon. Frank Omosigho as 1st to 3rd Defendants respectively.
In an Amended Originating Summons filed by his counsel, *AGHAHOWA & CO, FOCUS CHAMBERS, Dr. Ogbeide-Ihama is asking the court to determine whether the NDC is bound to sponsor only the candidate that emerged from its valid primary conducted on *29th May 2026*. 
The Plaintiff contends that he duly participated in the said primary, emerged winner, completed and transmitted his INEC Form EC-9, and remains a registered financial member of the NDC with Membership Card No. 6309528.
He is praying the court for a declaration that he is the valid candidate of the NDC for Oredo Federal House of Representatives, and that the nomination and submission of Hon. Frank Omosigho to INEC is illegal, null and void.
According to the affidavit in support, Hon. Frank Omosigho was allegedly not a registered financial member of the NDC, did not contest the 29th May 2026 primary, and did not submit Form EC-9. The Plaintiff further alleged that the 3rd Defendant had earlier contested and lost the APC primaries for Oredo East Constituency on 20th May 2026 with 69 votes.
The Plaintiff averred that the 3rd Respondent’s attempt to decamp to the NDC failed. In the affidavit, he stated that a letter written by the NDC Edo State Chairman to the former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, seeking recognition of Hon. Frank Omosigho and two others as new members of NDC, was set-aside by the Speaker after deliberation by the House during its Votes and Proceedings of *22nd June, 2026* — almost a month after the NDC Federal House of Representatives Primaries — for not adhering to due process. Hence, Hon. Frank Omosigho is currently the APC House of Assembly member representing Oredo East in the Edo State House of Assembly.
Among other reliefs, the Plaintiff is seeking an order compelling INEC not to substitute his name, an order compelling the NDC to forward his name to INEC as its candidate, and perpetual injunctions restraining the Defendants from recognizing Hon. Frank Omosigho as the candidate.
The Plaintiff is also asking for aggravated and exemplary damages of *N50,000,000.00* against the NDC for acting in bad faith and in breach of its own Constitution.
The case borders on Sections 29, 31, 33, 77(5), 84(1) and 88(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, and Articles 15.04(i), 15.04(v-vi) of the NDC Constitution 2026 as amended.
All parties have been served and are expected in court tomorrow for mention and hearing of preliminary applications.
The matter is expected to test the enforcement of internal democracy within political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
