RismadarVoice Reporters
September 26, 2026
Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has said the Supreme Court judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 did not disqualify him from contesting the 2027 Delta Central Senatorial election.
Omo-Agege, the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate for Delta Central, made the clarification in a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Strategy and Communications, Godwin Anaighe.
He maintained that the Supreme Court neither issued an order against him nor made a candidate-specific determination declaring him ineligible to contest the election.
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, overturning an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had voided the provisions.
The sections principally concern political party membership registers and procedures for nominating candidates.
Omo-Agege said reports interpreting the judgment as automatically removing him from the Delta Central race were inaccurate.
“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,” his statement said.
He maintained that his name was contained in the NDC membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission within the required period and that he remained on INEC’s final list of candidates.
Omo-Agege also dismissed claims by political opponents that the judgment had invalidated his candidacy.
He specifically responded to reactions from supporters of the All Progressives Congress candidate for Delta Central, Senator Ede Dafinone, saying the interpretation being circulated did not reflect what the Supreme Court decided.
The former Deputy Senate President urged his opponents to focus on their records, programmes and proposals ahead of the election.
“If Dafinone wants the Senate seat, he should come to the field with his record, his programme and his arguments for another term,” Omo-Agege said.
The Supreme Court judgment arose from a legal challenge concerning the constitutionality of provisions regulating political party membership registers and candidate nomination.
The apex court upheld INEC’s appeal and restored the Federal High Court judgment that had earlier dismissed the challenge to the provisions.
The ruling itself did not name or expressly disqualify Omo-Agege. Questions over whether individual candidates complied with the restored provisions may, however, depend on the relevant party and electoral records and any subsequent legal proceedings.
Omo-Agege maintained that he remained in the Delta Central contest and said voters would ultimately determine their preferred candidate at the polls.
