Lawyer Questions Court’s Recognition of Okorocha as APC Senatorial Candidate
Nigerian lawyer and public affairs analyst Barrister Justice Osai Ahiakwo has questioned a recent Federal High Court judgement in Abuja. The court recognised former Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections.
Osai said the ruling raises serious questions about whether the suit met the constitutional 14-day limit for pre-election cases. He argued that a court must settle the issue of jurisdiction before it can consider the merits of a dispute.
He cited Section 285(9) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires pre-election matters to be filed within 14 days of the event, decision or action being challenged.
Applying that provision, Osai pointed to the timeline. The APC held its primary on May 18, 2026, across the 12 local government areas of the district. Okorocha filed his suit on August 13, 2026, which raises doubts about whether he acted within the prescribed period. According to Osai, a later administrative decision cannot automatically revive a cause of action that is already statute-barred.
Even so, he cautioned against drawing a firm conclusion before reviewing the certified true copy of the judgement and the relevant court processes. In his view, the central question is whether the court properly addressed the constitutional time limit before deciding who lawfully won the primary.
“The Constitution, not political influence, must determine who is lawfully entitled to a party’s nomination,” he said. He added that when a suit is filed outside the constitutional period, a favourable decision on the merits cannot cure the defect in jurisdiction.
Osai is known for commenting on constitutional matters, elections and godfatherism. He is also reported to have taken part in Nigerian Bar Association activities, discussions on legal ethics and debates on policing.
