Federal High Court Strikes Out Akpovoka’s Case, Awards N1M Cost Against Him In Favour Of Ominimini, NDC
By Matthias Ogbagah & Ozioma Eze
WARRI – The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, on Monday, September 28, 2026, struck out a pre-election case instituted by Mr Julius Akpovoka, an aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), against the candidate of the party, Dr Christopher Obiuwevwi Ominimini.
Delivering the ruling, the presiding judge, Hon. Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, struck out the suit upon the Notice of Discontinuance filed by Mr Akpovoka, fearing defeat.
The Court awarded costs of five hundred thousand naira each against Akpovoka in favour of the NDC and Chief Dr Christopher Ominimini.
When the case was called, the counsel to Mr Julius Akpovoka pleaded to the court for discontinuation of the case; however, his plea was met with a brick wall as the counsel to Chief Ominimini and the NDC opposed the application, noting that the plaintiff’s name is in the final list of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) both in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a candidate.
Counsel to Ominimini, Mr Michael Ukusare, while granting journalists audience outside the courtroom, said Akpovoka chickened out because he foresaw defeat, and he quickly applied for discontinuation of the case.
“Julius Akpovoka brought an action to the court to stop Chief Dr Christopher Ominimini Obieuwevbi from contesting in the Primaries conducted by the NDC.
“Upon receiving and seeing Ominimini’s fortified defences, Akpovoka chickened out by filing a notice of discontinuance”.
There is wide jubilation in the court premises as the court took a bold step to strike out the case to serve as a deterrent to other politicians who are intent on indulging in similar acts.
