The legal battle for the 2027 election ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Delta South Senatorial seat was on Monday shifted again by the Federal High Court in Abuja due to the absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

At Monday’s proceedings, when the suit instituted by a former Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Prince Micheal Diden, was to be heard, Justice Mohammed Umar, put it off till Wednesday, to enable the electoral body appear in court to present its own position.

It would be recalled that this is the third time INEC would be absent in court. The commission has also not filed any process in respect of the matter.

During the proceedings, Bankole Joel Akomolafe, SAN, appeared for the plaintiff, while Lukman Fagbemi, SAN, announced appearance for Senator Joel Onowakpo and Habeeb Lawal stood for the APC.

Lead counsel to the plaintiff, told the judge that he had filed his reply to the two sets of statements of defense of Senator Onowakpo and APC and that he had served same on them as 1st and 2nd defendants.

Akomolafe however, noted that the electoral body was still not in court despite the service of the originating summons on it to enable it file its defense.

The senior lawyer said that in view of the critical importance of INEC to the suit, he would concede to an adjournment till Wednesday to allow the electoral body be in court.

He also announced to the court that the two video recordings on the conduct of the primary election would be played in the open court to enable the court arrive at a just conclusion.

Based on the agreement of lawyers Justice Umar, shifted the hearing till July 8, with an order that a fresh hearing date should be communicated to the INEC.

Ejele, a former Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State commenced the legal battle against the 1st defendant’s (Senator Joel Onowakpo) declaration as winner of the APC’s primary election in the Delta South Senatorial District, held on May 18, 2026.

The plaintiff in the suit marked: FHC/ ABJ/CS/1094/2026 is claiming that he secured the highest number of votes cast at the primary election and should be declared candidate of the APC for the Delta South Senatorial District election, slated for January next year.

He is among others asking the court to declare him winner of the May 18, Direct Primary election conducted for the selection of the APC’s candidate for the 2027 senatorial election in the district, on grounds that he scored the highest votes cast at the poll.

In the Writ of Summons filed on his behalf by his team of lawyers led by Mr Bankole Joel Akomolafe, SAN, the plaintiff accused the 1st defendant of manipulation and announcement of forged and fake results.

Diden in the statement of claim stated that the National Working Committee of the APC who organised the aforesaid Primary Election announced the established procedures for the announcement of the result of the said election; that the collation and announcement of results would be conducted exclusively in an official briefing at Abuja after the submission of all results.

He averred that contrary to the instructions the 1st defendant immediately ran to various media to pronounce himself the winner of the APC Direct Primary Election for the Delta South Senatorial District, Delta State held on Monday, May 18, 2026, thereby allegedly misinforming the public and particularly members of the Senatorial District of the Plaintiff.

“The 1st Defendant connived and colluded with his cohorts to write forged results where he falsely declare himself the winner of the election, he did not only publish the forged results of the 8 Local Government Areas under the Delta South Senatorial District, Delta State in the various media, he also recorded his cohorts publicly declaring the false result in a video that has gone viral to mislead the people contrary to what actually transpired on the day of election where the plaintiff defeated the 1st Defendant with a wide margin”, he claimed.

Plaintiff further averred that the 1st Defendant made the aforesaid representations fraudulently in that he knew they were false or were reckless, not caring that they were true or false notwithstanding the monitoring of the 3rd Defendant officials at the election.

“Contrary to the above declaration of the false results announced by the 1st Defendant in the viral video pleaded above, the Plaintiff through his agents in all the wards of the 8 Local Government Areas within the Delta South Senatorial District, Delta State have the authentic results of each ward intact in which the Plaintiff defeated the 1st Defendant with a wide margin scoring 96,893 (Ninety Six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety Three) votes as against the 1st Defendant’s 31,918(Thirty One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighteen) votes respectively”, he said.

The plaintiff added that sequel to the above unequivocal and overwhelming victory he won at the poll the “leaders, stakeholders, elders, women, youths and registered members of the APC in the Senatorial District wrote a formal petition to the party’s national headquarters to denounce and reject the fraudulent declaration of the 1st Defendant as the winner of the election”.

He added that his lawyers had written a similar complaint “about the desperate manipulation and the announcement of fake results of Monday, May 18, 2026 election by the 1st Defendant to the National Chairman of the 2nd Defendant.

“The Plaintiff avers that the 1st Defendant by his actions has not only embarrassed all the contestants of the election but has also cast aspersion on the entire election process, unless this Honourable Court grants the reliefs of the Plaintiff and put the record straight for all observers”.

Among reliefs he is seeking from the court are; a declaration that the Plaintiff being the aspirant who scored the highest number of valid votes cast at the APC Primary Election for the Delta South Senatorial District, Delta State held on Monday, May 18, 2026 and having satisfied the requirements of the Constitution, Electoral Act, 2026 and the APC’s Direct Primaries Guidelines and Procedures, be declared the winner and he should be declared as the Candidate of the APC in the 2027 general elections of Delta South Senatorial District, Delta State in Nigeria.

He is also seeking an order directing the APC to immediately forward his name to INEC as the APC’s candidate for Delta South Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.

Diden is also praying for an order directing INEC to accept and/or receive his name from the APC as the party’s candidate in the 2017 senatorial election in Delta South Senatorial District.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress, APC, have renewed their exchange over security and policing in the state.

The latest disagreement is coming after the recent fact-finding visit of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

In a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke, who said residents expected impartial policing before, during and after the election, urged the police to implement measures that would guarantee fairness and public confidence.

The governor commended the Inspector-General’s visit, saying it provided an opportunity for all political parties and community stakeholders to present their positions on the security situation in the state.

According to Adeleke, “the discussions during the visit should guide the immediate implementation of agreed measures aimed at ensuring non-partisan law enforcement across Osun State.

“We appreciate the visit of the Inspector General of Police and that of the Deputy Inspector General a week earlier. The facts are out in the public domain. The IGP has heard and read from both parties.”

Adeleke added that the Commissioner of Police in Osun should remain impartial in the investigation and prosecution of cases of political violence adding that such an approach was necessary to sustain public confidence in the police.

“We seek the arrest of any law breaker irrespective of their political affiliation. Those who commit crimes should be arrested and prosecuted. We harbour no thugs in Government House or anywhere,” he stated.

The governor also called on security agencies to provide a secure environment for voters, adding that killings and attacks were not conducive to the exercise of democratic rights. He pledged his administration’s continued support for security agencies while insisting that the government sought only fair, impartial policing.

Meanwhile, the Osun APC said the Inspector-General’s remarks during his visit supported its earlier allegation that individuals accused of criminal activities were being sheltered within the Osun Government House.

In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC claimed that the Inspector-General had directed the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to professionally address the allegation.

The opposition party alleged that, “any police action should extend beyond the Government House if investigations required it. Suspected political hoodlums had been shielded from arrest.”

The APC also criticised comments previously made by Osun State Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, describing his response to the Inspector-General’s remarks as “misplaced” and a mere afterthought.

The party accused the state government of politicising security matters and insisted that law enforcement agencies should thoroughly investigate all allegations relating to political violence in the state.

By Nkiruka Nnorom, with agency reports

United States would closely watch Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, warning that Washington’s security and financial support would be tied to issues of religious freedom and conduct of the polls. 

US Congressman, Riley Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia, disclosed this in an interview with NoireTV yesterday.

Responding to questions on Nigeria’s next elections, Moore said the conduct of the polls was now a priority for Washington. 

“What I’d say is that we’re certainly going to be watching these results and how these elections unfold and how they’re executed. And that’s something that myself and the administration are going to be paying very close attention to,” he stated. 

Moore revealed that the US House of Representatives was considering an appropriations bill with strong and aggressive language on Nigeria. 

“We’re working on Chris Smith’s bill, which obviously I’m a co-sponsor. But I’d say, more importantly, is the appropriations bill that we’re going to have on the floor,” the lawmaker said. According to him, the bill contains provisions on “the persecution of Christians and restrictions on security assistance to the government of Nigeria, and steps they have to take.

“That bill’s likely to become law. We’re about to, hopefully, pass that. And so there’s some pretty strong and aggressive language in that bill that’s going to be binding as it relates to our relationship to Nigeria moving forward.’’

The congressman said he remained in direct engagement with the Trump administration on Nigeria and would raise the issues again at a scheduled dinner with the President. 

“I continue to work with the administration on next steps that we’re going to take. I’m actually going to see President Trump tonight. 

‘’I’ll be having dinner with him and some other members, so yeah, I continue to talk to him about these issues, and it’s very important to him,” Moore said.