Court Adjourns Suit Challenging Taraba APC Chairmanship Primary to July 1

A Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, has adjourned until July 1, 2026, for the definite hearing of a suit seeking the nullification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship primary election in the state.

Justice Mashkur Salisu fixed the date on Monday following the alleged failure of the defendants to file and serve their statements of defence.

The suit was instituted by an APC chairmanship aspirant, Abdulhadi Lau, who is challenging the conduct and outcome of the party’s primary election.

Lau is asking the court to invalidate the exercise, alleging that he was unlawfully excluded from participating despite purchasing the party’s nomination forms and fulfilling all requirements to contest for the position.

According to the claimant, he completed all necessary procedures and was duly qualified for the primary election but was denied the opportunity to participate without any valid explanation.

He argued that his exclusion violated his constitutional rights and undermined the principles of internal democracy within the party.

Through his legal team, Lau urged the court to intervene and ensure justice is served, maintaining that allowing such actions to stand could set a dangerous precedent for the country’s democratic system.

He further appealed to the judiciary to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process, stressing that the exclusion of qualified aspirants from party primaries poses a threat to democratic governance.

During Monday’s proceedings, counsel informed the court that the defendants had yet to file their statements of defence, prompting Justice Salisu to adjourn the matter until July 1 for a definite hearing.

The court is expected to hear arguments from all parties on the adjourned date as the legal challenge over the APC chairmanship primary election in Taraba State continues.