ABRAKA, DELTA STATE — The camp of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has dismissed a petition reportedly submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) challenging his nomination as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial candidate for Delta Central in the 2027 general elections.
In a press statement dated October 15, 2026, and signed by Sunny Areh, Media Adviser to Omo-Agege, the camp described the petition as frivolous and politically motivated, alleging that it was sponsored by individuals aligned with the incumbent senator representing Delta Central, Ede Dafinone.
The statement maintained that Omo-Agege had duly resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in accordance with applicable laws and party regulations before joining the NDC and securing its senatorial ticket.
It further asserted that Omo-Agege’s membership of the NDC and the party’s submission of his nomination to INEC complied with the relevant electoral requirements.
According to the statement, the NDC also granted waivers to some candidates in line with its constitution as a precaution against possible internal disputes over nominations.
Addressing the Supreme Court judgment of September 24, 2026, cited in the controversy, Omo-Agege’s camp argued that the ruling did not disqualify him from contesting the election. It maintained that his candidacy remained valid under the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The statement also claimed that INEC had published its final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections, with Omo-Agege listed as the NDC candidate for Delta Central Senatorial District.
However, the claims concerning the legal effect of the Supreme Court judgment, the validity of the nomination and the status of INEC’s published list could not be independently established from the statement alone.
The former deputy Senate president’s camp accused Dafinone’s political associates of attempting to undermine his candidacy through petitions and publicity rather than competing directly at the polls.
It also criticised Dafinone’s performance in the Senate, alleging that his representation had failed to meet the expectations of the Urhobo people. These criticisms represent the position of Omo-Agege’s camp and were not independently verified.
The statement urged Dafinone to focus on presenting his record of service to voters and allow the electorate to decide between the candidates in a competitive election.
Reaffirming Omo-Agege’s commitment to the 2027 race, the camp said it would remain focused on its political mission despite the petition and related controversy.
The statement was signed by Sunny Areh, Media Adviser to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, on October 15, 2026.
