Legborsi Nwiabu, an African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Rivers State House of Assembly, Khana Constituency I seat, has sued his party in a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, claiming he was barred from participating in the party’s most recent primary election.
The complaint also names Bright Nulee, the ADC’s proclaimed candidate for the Khana Constituency I seat in the 2027 general election, as a respondent, as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission.
When the case came up for hearing on Friday, Emenike Ebete, counsel for the ADC, informed the court that a committee had been created to discuss concerns emerging from the disputed primary and verbally requested permission to allow the parties to settle the matter outside of court.
The application was not challenged by counsel for the second and third respondents.
However, the plaintiff’s counsel, Felix Beragbara, rejected the request, stating in court that his client had not been told of any such committee.
After hearing statements from both sides, the presiding judge, Justice Muhammed Turaki, granted permission for the parties to explore an out-of-court settlement and delayed the case until August 12, 2026, for a report on the settlement or, alternatively, a hearing of the suit.
Addressing journalists outside the courthouse, Beragbara recounted the facts that led his client to seek redress in court, stating that his client was willing to return to court if the committee failed to give justice in the case.
“My client was tricked out of his party’s primaries, which were slated for May 21, 2026.
“You must be aware that almost all the political parties conducted their primaries in May 2026. My client’s political party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), also had primaries, and he was a candidate for the party’s nomination for the House of Assembly seat in Khana Constituency I, Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State.
“The election was set to take place nationwide on May 21, 2026.
“Unfortunately, the election could not be place on that specific date. It was rescheduled—or reportedly rescheduled—for the next day, May 22, 2026. My client rallied his supporters, dispatched field agents and stationed them at all voting locations throughout Khana Constituency I’s 11 wards.
“My client and his supporters, who are ADC members, waited from the morning, when accreditation was slated to begin, until evening.
“They did not see a single ADC official who arrived to oversee the election. They also did not notice any monitoring officers representing the third defendant in this case.
“So the first defendant, my client’s political party, failed to hold the primaries.” My client then petitioned the appeals committee, claiming that the election did not take place and requesting that they organise another election so that the party could have a genuine candidate.