Senator Ned Nwoko has vowed to challenge a Federal High Court ruling that struck out his suit contesting Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s senatorial candidacy under the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the legal battle is far from over.
In a statement issued by his legal team on Monday in Abuja, the Delta North senator described the court’s decision as unfortunate and maintained that the matter had not been determined on its substantive merits. According to Nwoko, the court merely struck out the case rather than dismissing it entirely, leaving room for an appeal.
The senator disclosed that he had already instructed his lawyers to approach the Court of Appeal, expressing confidence that the lower court’s ruling would be overturned.
“We have instructed our counsel to file an appeal immediately and are confident that the appellate court will overturn it,” he said.
Nwoko argued that the case had yet to receive a full hearing, alleging that procedural developments in the lower court prevented the substantive issues from being addressed. He noted that the court had initially granted him permission to amend his legal filings before later reversing that decision on its own initiative.
Questioning the basis of the ruling, the senator described the court’s actions as an attempt to halt the suit before the core arguments could be examined.
“This is an attempt to sabotage the substantive suit at this preliminary stage, and it is imperative that the suit be heard on its merits,” Nwoko stated.
The lawmaker further reaffirmed his determination to pursue the case through the appellate process, stressing the need for justice to be both done and seen to be done. He added that his actions were guided by principles of fairness, transparency and the broader interests of the APC in Delta State.
The legal dispute marks another chapter in the political contest surrounding the party’s leadership and representation in Delta, with Nwoko insisting that the issues raised in his suit deserve full judicial consideration. The outcome of the appeal is expected to determine whether the substantive claims against Okowa’s candidacy will eventually be heard in court.
