By Our Political Reporter

The Federal High Court No. 2 sitting in Gombe has reserved judgment in a suit challenging the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The suit was instituted by an APC aspirant, Mr. John Alfred, who is challenging the victory of Hon. Ali Isa J.C. as the party’s candidate for the House of Representatives seat.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Ahmed Musa, told the court that no valid APC primary election was conducted in the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency on May 18, 2026, as required by law. He alleged that no election took place in any of the 20 wards across Balanga and Billiri Local Government Areas, yet the APC declared Hon. Ali Isa J.C. as the winner of the primary election.

The plaintiff urged the court to nullify the declaration of Hon. Ali Isa J.C. as the APC candidate and order the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh primary election, arguing that the process was marred by substantial irregularities.

In his defence, counsel to the first defendant, Hon. Ali Isa J.C., J.J. Adamu, SAN, filed a motion on notice alongside a preliminary objection, urging the court to dismiss the suit. He maintained that the APC primary election was validly conducted across the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency.

The senior lawyer further informed the court that Hon. Ali Isa J.C. resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on April 14, 2026, relinquished his position as the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, and subsequently obtained valid membership of the APC before participating in the party’s primary election.

He relied on Order 4 Rule 6 of the Federal High Court Practice Directions, arguing that the plaintiff’s suit lacked merit and should be struck out.

Also, counsel to the APC, Barrister Muzzammil Yahaya, raised a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter. He urged the court to dismiss the case for being incompetent.

Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Barrister Bashi M. Abubakar, told the court that the commission monitored the APC primary elections across Gombe State and confirmed that it has the official list of candidates who emerged from the exercise.

After listening to the submissions of all parties, the presiding judge, Justice Verah Eneibor Ibrahim, reserved judgment and said a date for the delivery of the judgment would be communicated to all parties through their respective counsel.

By Our Political Reporter

The Federal High Court No. 1 sitting in Gombe on Tuesday heard a pre-election suit filed by an All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial aspirant, Bilyaminu Babadidi, challenging the nomination of Jeri Damara as the party’s candidate for the South Gombe Senatorial District.

The suit, which is before Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, has the APC, Jeri Damara and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.

Babadidi is asking the court to nullify Damara’s nomination, alleging that the APC did not conduct a valid primary election in the South Gombe Senatorial District before declaring him the party’s candidate.

The plaintiff told the court that no primary election was conducted in any of the 40 wards in the senatorial district. He further stated that although he petitioned the party’s Appeals Committee after the primary, his complaint was not considered.

He is therefore seeking an order setting aside Damara’s nomination and directing the APC to conduct a fresh senatorial primary election for the district.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Ayuba Rabiu, called four witnesses, namely Musa Gebi, Emmanuel Abel Bable, Stash and the plaintiff himself.

The witnesses testified that no APC primary election was held in any of the 40 wards in the South Gombe Senatorial District and maintained that Damara was declared the party’s candidate without an election.

The witnesses were cross-examined by counsel to the defendants, Barrister Muzzambilu Yahaya, Barrister J. M. Gayus and Barrister Bashir M. Abubakar.

After the plaintiff closed his case, Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed adjourned the matter until Wednesday, July 1, 2026, for the defendants to open their defence.

By Our Political Reporter

The Federal High Court No. 1 sitting in Gombe has reserved judgment in a suit filed by an aspirant for the Akko West State Constituency seat under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Abubakar Adamu Pindiga, challenging his disqualification from participating in the party’s House of Assembly primary election.

The case, presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, has the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Abdullahi Abubakar, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.

Hon. Pindiga is contesting the decision of the APC Screening Committee, which disqualified him from the primary election through an official publication issued on May 14, 2026.

According to the petitioner, he is a loyal, registered, and financially up-to-date member of the APC with membership number APC150109003715, from Pindiga Ward in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State. He also stated that he served as the Secretary of the APC Gombe State Executive Committee from 2017 to 2021.

The petitioner told the court that he complied with all party guidelines, including the purchase, completion, and timely submission of his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms. He further stated that he successfully appeared before the party’s screening committee on May 12, 2026.

He alleged that the screening committee based its decision solely on an alleged petition from his constituency accusing him of misconduct and anti-party activities.

Pindiga, however, argued that he was never served with a copy of the petition, nor informed of the identities of the petitioners or the specific allegations against him.

He further maintained that no investigation was conducted by any committee or organ of the party before the decision was reached, insisting that unverified allegations could not legally justify his disqualification.

The petitioner also contended that he was denied fair hearing because the allegations were never presented to him before, during, or after his screening, thereby denying him the opportunity to defend himself.

Citing Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), he argued that the decision violated his constitutional right to fair hearing, stressing that even party screening panels are bound by the principles of natural justice and cannot condemn a candidate unheard based on a secret petition.

He further submitted that under Nigerian law, every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty, adding that a mere petition does not constitute proof of misconduct. According to him, disqualifying a duly qualified and financially compliant party member on the basis of unproven allegations undermines internal party democracy.

The petitioner therefore urged the court to set aside the decision of the APC Screening Committee, dismiss the alleged petition for lacking merit, proof, and substance, and declare him qualified to contest the APC primary election for the Akko West State Constituency seat.

Counsel to the petitioner, Barrister Liman Yahaya Hamma Adamu, moved the application on behalf of his client.

Counsel to the defendants, Barrister Ibrahim Aliyu Nasarawa and Barrister Adetoyin Falola, also moved their respective motions and preliminary objections before the court.

After listening to submissions from both parties, Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed reserved judgment in the matter, stating that the date for delivery of the judgment would be communicated to all parties.