Court Dismisses Ararume's Challenge Against Ndubueze in Imo

The Federal High Court in Abuja has thrown out a case by Ifeanyi Ararume. He challenged the recognition of Patrick Ndubueze as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 Imo North Senatorial District election.

Ndubueze currently serves as the senator for Imo North. Ararume has previously held the same position.

Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled that the court does not have the power to hear this case. He said a similar case had already been decided by another court.

Justice Ibrahim supported the objection raised by Ndubueze. He called the suit “an abuse of court process.”

The ruling was delivered on August 26, but the certified true copy was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

In his suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1569/2026, Ararume sued APC, Ndubueze, and INEC. He raised concerns about who the valid candidate is for the Imo North Senatorial District.

Ararume asked the court to order INEC to recognize him as the APC candidate for the 2027 elections. He also wanted an injunction to stop Ndubueze from claiming to be the party’s candidate.

His lawyer, George Ibrahim, SAN, also wanted the court to cancel the uploading of Ndubueze’s name by INEC on July 11. He argued that INEC should upload Ararume’s name instead.

This case was based on Section 6(6)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution, Sections 84(1) and 88(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, and Articles 20(ii)(a) and (iii) of the APC Constitution.

APC and Ndubueze disagreed with Ararume’s claims. Ndubueze, through his lawyer, Paul Ananaba, SAN, asked the court to dismiss the case. He said it misuses the court process.

He also asked for the case to be thrown out because the court lacks the power to decide it. Ndubueze said the dispute over the primary election held on May 18 was already settled by a Federal High Court in Owerri on June 25.

INEC, in a statement filed by Johnson Usman, SAN, said it would follow the court’s decision. Usman explained that political parties upload candidates’ details through a system allowed by INEC.

He noted that the name uploaded by APC on July 11 was Ndubueze’s. That name was still on the portal when the case was heard.

In his ruling, Justice Ibrahim said the court had to first consider the objection raised by Ndubueze. He agreed that both cases were about the same issue.

“This court does not express any opinion about whether the judgement of Owoibo, J. was right or wrong,” he said. “An allegedly erroneous judgement does not mean it is not valid. Until a higher court sets it aside, it remains a valid decision that other courts must respect.”

He added that since the court found it lacks the power to hear Ararume’s case, the proper action was to dismiss the suit.

“I therefore hold that, given the existing judgement from the Federal High Court in Owerri, delivered by Hon. Justice I.N. Owoibo on June 25, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/70/2026, this court must dismiss it.”

“The Federal High Court operates as one court, but is divided for administrative reasons. This case is a gross abuse of court process as this court is at the same level with the Owerri division.”

“I find merit in the preliminary objection and I will uphold it. Therefore, I hereby strike out Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/1569/2026. There will be no order for costs,” the judge ruled.