The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has nullified the All Progressives Congress primary election that produced Ali Isa J.C. as the party’s candidate for the Balangailliri Federal Constituency.
Justice Vera E. Ibrahim, in a judgment delivered on Thursday, ordered the APC to conduct a fresh primary within 30 days and barred Ali J.C. from participating in the new exercise.
The court held that his participation in the May 16, 2026 primary was invalid, unlawful, null and void, citing alleged non-compliance with Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026.
The judgment followed a suit filed by another aspirant, John Alfred, who challenged the validity of the primary and the emergence of Ali J.C. as the APC candidate.
According to the court, Ali J.C.’s name was not contained in the APC membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission at least 21 days before the primary, as required by the Electoral Act.
Alfred had told the court that Ali J.C. joined the APC 16 days before the primary.
Justice Ibrahim consequently nullified his emergence as the party’s candidate and ordered the withdrawal of his Certificate of Return.
The judge also held that the primary was conducted without strict compliance with the relevant statutory requirements, rendering the process invalid.
The court, relying on recent Supreme Court decisions, distinguished between ordinary disputes over party membership and compliance with statutory requirements governing party membership registers.
It held that the requirement for a candidate’s name to appear in the membership register submitted within the prescribed period was a statutory compliance issue that could be examined by the court.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the plaintiff, Ibrahim Aliyu, described the decision as a victory for internal democracy.
