By Uthman Baba-Naseer, Minna
The Federal High Court in Minna, Niger State, has adjourned to July 9, 2026, for the commencement of hearing in a suit challenging the emergence of Prof. Yakubu Mohammed Auna as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general election.
The suit was filed by Alhaji Shehu Samaila Auna, who is asking the court to nullify the APC primary election, alleging that no valid primary was conducted in the constituency despite the declaration of Prof. Auna as the party’s candidate.
Joined as defendants in the suit, marked FHC/MN/CS/54/2026, are the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Shehu Saleh Sloow, Safiyanu Yahaya, Emma Alamu and Sani Doma.
The plaintiff is asking the court to determine whether the APC complied with the provisions of Sections 84, 86 and 87 of the Electoral Act, 2026, in nominating Prof. Auna as its candidate for the Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency, insisting that no primary election was held in the constituency.
He further prayed the court to declare Prof. Auna’s nomination invalid and prevent INEC from accepting his nomination for the 2027 general election on the grounds that the party allegedly failed to conduct a lawful primary in line with the Electoral Act.
The plaintiff also contended that the nomination process violated the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and should therefore be declared null and void.
The matter, however, could not proceed because two of the defendants had not been served with hearing notices.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Mohammed Abdullahi, told the court that repeated efforts to serve the affected defendants had been unsuccessful, alleging that they had been evading service. He consequently sought an adjournment to enable proper service.
Ruling on the application, Justice Mohammed Aminu Dan Ige adjourned the matter to July 9, 2026, and directed that all outstanding hearing notices be served on the defendants before the next sitting.
