2027: Court Summons INEC, LP, Aspirant Over Benue Ticket Dispute

The Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, has summoned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Labour Party (LP), and Hon. Blessed Emmanuel Onah over a legal challenge to the party’s House of Representatives ticket for the Oju/Obi Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general election.
The suit, marked FHC/MKD/CS/69/2026, was filed by Jonah Ihie Onah, who is asking the court to declare him the lawful Labour Party candidate for the constituency after claiming he was endorsed as the party’s consensus candidate on May 8, 2026.
In the originating summons dated June 11, 2026, the court directed the defendants to enter their appearance within seven days of being served, warning that proceedings could continue in their absence.
The plaintiff alleged that Hon. Blessed Emmanuel Onah was unlawfully presented as the party’s candidate despite not being a registered member of the Labour Party or participating in the party’s primary election held on May 18, 2026.
He is seeking declarations that only his name should be submitted by the Labour Party to INEC as its validly nominated candidate for the Oju/Obi Federal Constituency seat.
Jonah also urged the court to restrain INEC from recognising or publishing any candidate other than himself and to declare any nomination of Hon. Blessed Emmanuel Onah for the election unlawful, null and void.
Among the reliefs sought are orders directing INEC and the Labour Party to remove the name of the second defendant from any list of nominated candidates, election records or ballot materials for the constituency.
He further requested injunctions restraining both INEC and the Labour Party from recognising or presenting Hon. Blessed Emmanuel Onah as the party’s candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election.
The suit raises questions over whether a political party can lawfully nominate a candidate who was allegedly not a member of the party and did not emerge through a valid primary election, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The court has fixed June 20 for the first hearing, when INEC, the Labour Party and Hon. Blessed Emmanuel Onah are expected to appear before the court to respond to the claims.