Federal High Court Reserves Ruling on Suit Challenging Taraba APC Chairmanship Primary
The Federal High Court in Jalingo has reserved its judgment in a suit seeking to nullify the All Progressives Congress state chairmanship primary election in Taraba State.
In Brief
- •The Federal High Court in Jalingo has reserved its judgment in a suit seeking to nullify the All Progressives Congress state chairmanship primary election in Taraba State.
- •Plaintiff Abdulhadi Haruna Lau claims he was unlawfully excluded from participating in the primary despite paying required party fees.
- •Legal counsel for the APC asked the court to dismiss the suit, asserting that candidate qualification is an internal party affair beyond judicial jurisdiction.
- •Defense counsel argued Lau failed to pay a constitutionally required party penalty fee, while Lau's legal team asserted he was improperly denied the official intention form.
Why It Matters
The legal dispute highlights recurring conflicts surrounding internal party democracy and candidate screening in Nigerian politics. The court's eventual ruling will test the boundary between judicial oversight and a political party's autonomy over its internal electoral processes.
Key Details
- Presiding Judge
- Justice Mashkur Salisu
- Plaintiff
- Abdulhadi Haruna Lau
- Plaintiff Lead Counsel
- Musa Attah, SAN
- APC Defense Counsel
- Festus Kayode, SAN
- Court Jurisdiction
- Federal High Court, Jalingo, Taraba State
Context & Background
Disputes over aspirant screening, party fee compliance, and form issuance frequently lead to pre-election litigation in Nigeria, where courts are regularly called upon to determine whether procedural fairness was maintained during party primaries.
Original Reporting & Sources
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