Court Orders INEC to List Uche Nwole as NDC Candidate for Imo East

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish Uche Nwole’s name as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Imo East in the 16 January 2027 senatorial election.

The order would replace Uchechukwu Onyeagucha, whose name appears on the candidate list INEC published on 31 October.

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar also directed the NDC to forward Nwole’s name to INEC immediately.

Nwole had sued the party, the commission and Onyeagucha in case FHC/ABJ/CS/1225/2026, arguing that he won the party’s primary but was passed over for the ticket.

The judge found that Nwole won a direct primary monitored by INEC and met the requirements to stand as the party’s candidate.

The court held that the NDC could not use a consensus nomination to replace the winner after conducting a valid primary.

It also barred the party from submitting another name for the seat and directed INEC to accept and publish Nwole’s nomination.

For Imo East voters, the ruling changes whom INEC has been directed to list under the NDC.

The October list still names Onyeagucha, and a revised entry reflecting the court order has yet to be verified, News About Nigeria reports.