Anambra 2027: Aggrieved aspirant sues APGA, INEC over Assembly’s primaries 

Innocent Ojike has sued the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) over the declaration of Kosisochukwu Ibemesi as the winner of Oyi State Constituency primary election in Anambra State. 

Ojike, in a suit filed by his lawyer, Reuben Atabo (SAN), also joined Ibemesi and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st and 3rd defendants. 

In the writ of summons filed at the Federal High Court, marked: FHC/AWK/CS/173/2026, the aggrieved aspirant said he scored the highest number of lawful votes cast during the primary poll held on May 23, 2026.

The plaintiff, in the suit dated and filed on June 4, 2026 by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, therefore, sought 12 reliefs. 

Ojike sought a declaration that having regards to the fact that he “scored the highest number of lawful votes cast of 3,524 and was duly declared and returned as winner of the Oyi State Constituency Primary Election on the 23rd day of May, 2026 by the lawful and legally recognisable Returning Officer, Dr Nnewaluem James, the plaintiff is the rightful and lawful candidate of the 2nd defendant (APGA) for the general elections”.

The plaintiff said this is in accordance with the clear and express provisions of Section 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

He sought “an order nullifying or setting aside the purported declaration made on the 25th day of May, 2026, by the 2nd defendant (APGA) of the 1st defendant (Ibemesi)’s name as winner of the Primary Election for the Oyi State Constituency”.

He prayed the court to make an order of mandatory injunction directing his party to forthwith submit his name and for INEC to forthwith accept, publish, and recognise him as APGA candidate for the Oyi State Constituency for the 2027 general election. 

Ojike, who currently represents the constituency in the Anambra House of Assembly, also sought an order awarding the sum of N100 million as exemplary damages against Ibemesi and APGA. 

Besides, he sought an order awarding another sum of N100 million as cost of the suit against the 1st and 2nd defendants. 

The case is yet to be assigned to a judge.