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A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 6, 2026, for the definite hearing of a suit challenging the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Delta South Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections. Justice Mohammed Garba Umar adjourned the matter after counsel to the plaintiff, Prince Michael Diden, requested a short postponement to enable him respond to the statement of defence recently served by the first defendant, Senator Joel Onowakpo.
Diden, a former chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), is asking the court to declare him the authentic winner of the APC primary, alleging that he secured the highest number of valid votes cast. He accused Onowakpo of announcing what he described as forged and manipulated election results, while seeking an order directing the APC to recognise him as the party’s candidate and forward his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 senatorial election.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the court directed all parties to file and exchange every outstanding process before the next sitting to ensure the case proceeds without further delay. While the APC was represented in court, INEC had no legal representation despite being served with a hearing notice. The outcome of the suit is expected to determine the party’s rightful candidate for the Delta South Senatorial District in the 2027 elections.
