Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jnr, an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the Abia South Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general election, has taken legal action against the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over an alleged attempt to replace him as the party’s senatorial candidate.
Erondu approached the Federal High Court in Abuja following reports that the APC had substituted his name with that of Prince Paul Ikonne for the Abia South senatorial contest.
The former aspirant has rejected the reported substitution, maintaining that he remains the legitimate candidate produced by the APC’s direct primary conducted on May 18, 2026.
According to Erondu, the outcome of the primary was subsequently affirmed by the party’s Appeal Committee. He also relied on an INEC Certified True Copy of the primary election report as further evidence supporting his claim to the ticket.
The legal dispute is contained in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2026, filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division. The defendants include the APC, INEC, Prince Paul Ikonne, Nyerere Chinenye Anyim and Hon. Dr. Blessing Nwagba.
The case is being heard by Justice M. G. Umar.
In an order issued on July 28, 2026, the court granted Erondu permission to serve the originating summons and other court processes on the third, fourth and fifth defendants through substituted means.
The court directed that the documents could be served by handing them to a staff member or another person at the APC National Secretariat at 40 Blantyre Street, Wuse 2, Abuja. Alternatively, the processes could be affixed to the entrance gate of the premises.
The court ruled that service carried out through either method would be regarded as valid and sufficient service on the affected defendants.
The matter has been adjourned until September 9, 2026, for further proceedings.
Erondu is challenging the reported substitution on the grounds that there is no lawful basis for removing him from the party’s ticket. He argues that he has neither died nor voluntarily withdrawn from the senatorial race and that no court order has nullified his candidacy.
The suit could further intensify the political and legal dispute surrounding the APC’s Abia South Senatorial ticket as the parties move closer to the 2027 general election.
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The outcome of the case may determine who ultimately represents the APC in the Abia South senatorial contest.
Credit: Magic FM Aba.
