September 26, 2026
PRESS STATEMENT
SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT: OMO-AGEGE UNAFFECTED, DAFINONE CAMP’S JUBILATION MISPLACED
The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, restoring provisions governing party membership registers and the nomination of candidates. The judgment did not make any order against Senator Ovie Omo-Agege or pronounce him ineligible to contest the 2027 Delta Central Senatorial election.
- The celebration by supporters of Senator Ede Dafinone, who are already congratulating their candidate as though the Supreme Court had cleared his path to the Senate, is therefore misplaced. Senator Omo-Agege is a duly registered member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), his name is contained in the party’s membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before May 10, 2026, and INEC’s final list contains his name as the NDC candidate for Delta Central.
- The distinction is straightforward: the Court ruled on the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act; it did not issue a candidate-specific ruling against Omo-Agege. Turning that judgment into an announcement that Omo-Agege is out of the race is therefore political propaganda, not a statement of what the Court decided.
- What is striking is the contrast between the two camps. While Dafinone’s supporters are busy celebrating an outcome that has not happened, Omo-Agege remains focused on the actual contest before the people of Delta Central. One side is celebrating on social media; the other is preparing to face the electorate.
- If Senator Dafinone wants the Senate seat, he should come to the field with his record, his programme and his arguments for another term. He should not need an imaginary Supreme Court victory to make his case.
- The people of Delta Central will make their choice at the appropriate time. Until then, political celebrations cannot replace the contest.
Signed:
Godwin Anaughe
Special Adviser on Strategy and Communications to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege