An aggrieved member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Oyi State Constituency, Hon. Innocent Ojike, has taken legal action against the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Kosisochukwu Ibemesi, the declared winner of the party's primary election. The suit was filed at a Federal High Court in Awka.
Through his counsel, Reuben Atabo (SAN), Ojike submitted Suit No. FHC/AWK/CS/173/2026 on June 4, 2026, challenging the outcome of APGA's May 23, 2026 primary election for the Oyi State Constituency seat, in which Ibemesi was declared the winner. The lawmaker is seeking recognition as the authentic winner of the primary, alleging that he won the election but was unlawfully replaced with results favoring Ibemesi.
The lawsuit comes just one week after APGA supporters from Nteje Ward 4 and Ward 5 staged a protest at the Anambra State Government House over the alleged cancellation of Ojike's victory in the primary election. Ojike claimed he secured the highest number of lawful votes cast during the primary and was duly returned at the Oyi Local Government Area collation center with a total of 3,524 votes. According to him, he was officially declared winner by the legally recognized returning officer, Dr. Nnewaluem James.
The legislator maintains that he remains the lawful APGA candidate for the Oyi State Constituency election, citing Section 84(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 to support his claim. In the 12 reliefs sought before the court, Ojike asked the court to nullify APGA's declaration of Ibemesi as winner of the primary election announced on May 25, 2026. He also requested an order compelling APGA to submit his name to INEC as the party's authentic candidate for the 2027 general election and directing INEC to accept and publish his name accordingly.
Ojike is also demanding N100 million in damages against APGA and Ibemesi. As of the time of filing this report, the court had yet to fix a date for the hearing.
Background of the Dispute
Recall that no fewer than 1,500 APGA members from Oyi Local Government Area recently stormed the Anambra State Government House to protest what they described as the manipulation of the State House of Assembly primary election result. The protesters alleged that the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Innocent Ojike, popularly known as “Ojicam,” won the primary election but was denied victory in favor of Kosisochukwu Ibemesi.
Some of the placards displayed during the protest read: “Ojicam is the authentic winner in APGA Primary in Oyi,” “Soludo, Restore Ojike’s Victory or Conduct Fresh Primary,” “Our Votes Must Count,” and “We Demand Justice, Not Political Fraud.”
Allegations of Irregularities
Addressing government officials on behalf of the protesters, Dr. Emeka Okafor from Nteje community claimed that results submitted to the collation officer showed that Ojike polled 179 votes against 45 votes scored by Ibemesi. He alleged that the result was authenticated by the Oyi Local Government collation officer before another result later emerged in favor of Ibemesi.
Also speaking, APGA State Treasurer, Chief Uchenna Oraegbunam, alleged that the controversial result declared for Ibemesi contained inflated figures, noting that Nteje Ward 4 reportedly recorded 425 votes despite having only 230 accredited voters. He warned that allowing such alleged irregularities to stand could damage the credibility and integrity of APGA in Oyi Local Government Area.
