The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Monday adjourned a suit filed by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) seeking an order to strike down Sections 138 and 77(5) of the new Electoral Act, 2026, until June 9 for hearing.

The case, which was listed on the day’s cause list, could not proceed due to Justice Mohammed Umar’s absence.

Although the NDC’s lawyer, Vincent Ottaokpukpu, and the defence lawyers, including O.J. Opawale, were in court, the judge was said to be on another official engagement.

The matter was subsequently fixed for June 9 for hearing.

Justice Umar had, on May 8, fixed today for the hearing of the case.

The NDC, in the suit, argued that the two sections were inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The NDC, which was registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on February 5, had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/635/2026.

The party, in the originating summons, sued the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and clerk of the National Assembly as first and second defendants.

It also joined the Senate president and chairman of the National Assembly, Godswill Akpabio, and INEC as third and fourth defendants, respectively.

Mr Ottaokpukpu, who filed the suit on March 27, prayed the court to grant their reliefs.

The lawyer sought an order striking down the provisions of Section 138 for being inconsistent with the compulsory provisions of Sections 65 (2) (a), 106 (1) (c), 131 (1) (d), 177 (1) (d) and 66 (1) (i), 107 (1) (i), 137 (1) (j) and 182 (1) (j) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He sought an order directing the first, second and third defendants to amend and re-enact a new provision of the Electoral Act, 2026 to restore “qualification” as a ground of challenging the return of any candidate into the seats of the House of Representatives, Senate, House of Assembly, president and governor.

He said this was in line with the provisions of Sections 65 (2) (a), 106 (1) (c), 131 (1) (d), 177 (1) (d) and 66 (1) (i), 107 (1) (i), 137 (1) (j) and 182 (1) (j) of the constitution.

Mr Ottaokpukpu equally sought an order striking down Section 77 (5) of the Electoral Act, 2026 for being inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 40 and 65 (2) (b), 106 (1) (d), 231 (1) (c) and 177 (1) (c) of the 1999 Constitution, among others.

In the affidavit in support of the suit, Ezechi Adaobi, a litigation secretary in the law firm of V-C Ottaokpukpu & Associates, said the NDC, as a stakeholder in the Nigerian electoral process, would in future elections field candidates for elections, including the office of the president.

She said the National Assembly, under the second and third defendants’ stewardship, had, on February 18, passed the Electoral Act, 2026.

She said President Bola Tinubu, upon the recommendation of the AGF, assented to the Act of parliament on February 19.

Ms Adaobi stated that the NDC’s national legal adviser said he had read and understood all the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the new Act.

She said the legal adviser observed that Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act, 2026 provided that only members whose names are contained in the political party’s digital register transmitted to INEC, 21 days before a primary election or convention, would be eligible to participate in the primary elections.

She said the section was inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which did not provide for duration which a citizen must be a member of a political party to be eligible to contest for an election.

Ms Adaobi said from experience, members who were dissatisfied by the conduct of primaries in their respective parties usually sought refuge in other parties to enable them participate in the general elections.

She, therefore, urged the court to grant their reliefs in the interest of justice.

But INEC, in its counter affidavit filed on April 27, disagreed with the NDC.

It argued that the constitutional and statutory roles of the first, second and third defendants were provided by the constitution and the relevant enabling statutes, and not as characterised by the plaintiff.

The INEC submitted that the Electoral Act, 2026 was validly passed by the National Assembly on February 18 and duly assented to by President Bola Tinubu.

It said that the National Assembly passed the Electora! Act, 2026, in accordance with the 1999 Constitution.

The commission stated that President Tinubu assented to the Electoral Act, 2026 and that the same had become law within the federation.

It stated that the provisions of Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2026 does not infringe upon the constitutional right of any person to form, participate in, or belong to any political party.

It stated that the period allotted for the conduct of party primaries, being from April 23 to May 30 (inclusive of resolution of disputes arising therefrom), was a period of 38 clear days in strict compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026 and the constitutional framework.

The INEC, therefore, averred that by its timetable, political parties had a window of not less than the period prescribed by the timetable for the conduct of party primaries.

Seriake Dickson, who represents the Bayelsa West senatorial district, is currently the NDC’s national leader, while former governor Peter Obi of Anambra had been cleared to contest in the party’s presidential primary.

(NAN)