Thomas Ereyitomi APC candidate status is upheld as the Federal High Court dismisses a suit challenging his nomination for the Warri House of Representatives seat
Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Warri Federal Constituency, has secured a legal victory after the Federal High Court in Abuja upheld his nomination for the 2027 House of Representatives election.
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Justice Mohammed Garba Umar delivered the judgment on Thursday, dismissing a suit filed by fellow APC aspirant Dr Ekpoto Emmanuel, who sought to nullify Ereyitomi’s emergence from the party’s primary election and prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising his candidacy.
The dispute centred on the APC primary election held on May 16, 2026, which produced Ereyitomi as the party’s candidate for the Warri Federal Constituency.
Dr Emmanuel argued that Ereyitomi was allegedly a member of both the APC and the Nigeria Democracy Congress (NDC) when he contested the primary, making him ineligible to participate.
The plaintiff asked the court to disqualify Ereyitomi and declare him the lawful winner of the primary after finishing second in the contest.
In his ruling, Justice Umar held that the core issue before the court related to political party membership, which remains an internal affair of the APC and is not subject to judicial intervention.
The court agreed with submissions made by Ereyitomi, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission that disputes over party membership fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the political party.
Justice Umar consequently ruled that the case was not justiciable and lacked merit.
The court therefore dismissed the suit in its entirety, affirming Thomas Ereyitomi APC candidate status for the Warri Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election.
The judgment represents a significant legal victory for Ereyitomi, whose nomination had faced uncertainty following the challenge.
It also reinforces the long-standing judicial position that internal party affairs, including questions relating to membership and nomination processes, are generally beyond the jurisdiction of the courts except where expressly provided by law.
With the ruling, the APC is expected to proceed with Ereyitomi as its candidate for the Warri Federal Constituency, while attention shifts to preparations for the 2027 general election.
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The decision adds to a series of pre-election court judgments defining the limits of judicial intervention in party primaries, as Nigerian courts continue to distinguish between internal political disputes and matters that are legally justiciable under the Electoral Act.
