2027: Court Affirms Hon Thomas Ereyitomi as APC’s Candidate for Delta House of Representatives Election

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed Honourable Thomas Ereyitomi as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Warri Federal Constituency House of Representatives election in Delta State.

Justice Mohammed Umar, affirmed the candidacy of the two-term House of Representatives member, shortly after dismissing the suit by an aspirant, Ekpoto Emmanuel challenging his nomination and submission of his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The APC, INEC and Hon Ereyitomi are 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1079/2026.

Emmanuel had in the suit filed on May 28, prayed the court to nullify the participation and emergence of Hon Ereyitomi as the duly nominated candidate of the APC for the Warri Federal Constituency, House of Representatives election slated for January next year.

The aspirant had predicated his suit on the grounds that Ereyitomi’s nomination by APC as its candidate for the Warri Federal Constituency was unlawful on grounds of membership of two political parties.

The plaintiff alleged that as at May 16, when the APC conducted its primary election that produced the lawmaker as its candidate for the 2027 general elections, Ereyitomi was a member of the APC and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Among reliefs he sought included an order of the court sacking Ereyitomi as APC’s candidate for the Warri Federal Constituency House of Representatives election in Delta State on grounds of unlawful nomination and another order declaring him as the lawful winner of the primary election having scored second highest votes in the primary poll.

However, the defendants in their respective responses urged the court to dismiss the case of the plaintiff for lacking in merit.

According to them, the case of the plaintiff falls within the internal affairs of a political party, which the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Umar agreed with the submissions of the defendants that the case of the plaintiff borders on membership of a political party, and as such outside the jurisdiction of his court.

According to the court, once the national working committee of a political party sets up a screening committee, and all aspirants screened and cleared and proceeded to sell expression of interest and nomination forms to candidates, it is assumed that the issue of membership of the party by the cleared aspirant can no longer be an issue as in the present case.

“What is more, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the custodian of party documents including membership register, claimed that it was not aware of dual party membership raised against the third defendant”, the court held.

Umar stated that the third defendant in his counter-affidavit also made it clear that he registered at Ogidigben ward of Warri and displayed his temporary membership card issued to him by the leaders at the ward.

Besides, the judge observed that the plaintiff failed to challenge the third defendant’s of membership of the APC.

“From the totality of the claims, and reliefs sought by the plaintiff, it is crystal clear that his case revolves around party membership which in my view and in view of plethora decisions of the Supreme Court, falls within the internal affairs of a political party, and it is therefore outside the purview of this court to go into.

“I therefore do not hesitate to hold the view that the case of the plaintiff falls squarely in the internal affairs of the APC and therefore not justiciable.

Consequently, Justice Umar dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.