The Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has adjourned till November 19, 2026, for hearing the suit challenging the recognition of Senator Iyabo Obasanjo as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ogun Central Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.
The suit, marked FHC/AB/CS/117/2026, was instituted by Sogbesan Amoo, a PDP aspirant for the Ogun Central Senatorial seat, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP and Senator Obasanjo.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, November 3, 2026, before Justice Okeke, counsel to the plaintiff, Adewale Mosadomi, who held the brief of Ejembi Eko, SAN, informed the court that all parties had been served with the originating summons.
He also told the court that the plaintiff received the first defendant’s counter-affidavit and written address on November 2, adding that the plaintiff was still within the stipulated period to file a response.
Counsel representing the defendants also informed the court that the necessary processes had been filed and served on the parties.
M. Egah appeared for INEC, while B.R. Gold, SAN, appeared alongside I.A. Amosa for the PDP. Professor A. Amuda-Kannike, SAN, with R.O. Bakare, represented Senator Obasanjo.
Following the submissions of counsel, the court adjourned the matter to November 19 for hearing.
The legal dispute arose from INEC’s publication of Senator Obasanjo’s name on August 1, 2026, as the PDP candidate for Ogun Central Senatorial District.
In his suit, Amoo is asking the court to determine whether INEC could lawfully accept and publish her name when, according to his contention, she was not listed in the PDP membership register submitted to the electoral commission, as required under Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The plaintiff is also challenging the validity of her candidacy under Section 65(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, arguing that she was neither a registered member of the PDP nor a participant in the party’s primary election for the senatorial district.
He further wants the court to determine whether, under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, INEC could recognise and publish the name of a candidate who, according to the suit, did not participate in or emerge from a valid primary election conducted by the political party.
Amoo is consequently seeking declaratory reliefs to establish that the recognition and publication of Senator Obasanjo’s name as the PDP’s Ogun Central senatorial candidate were unlawful on the grounds of alleged non-compliance with relevant constitutional and electoral provisions.
The suit, filed on August 14, 2026, had earlier come up on September 29, when the plaintiff’s counsel informed the court that a bailiff had attempted to serve the court processes on Senator Obasanjo on September 28 but could not reach her.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to November 3 for further mention, culminating in Tuesday’s proceedings at which November 19 was fixed for hearing.
