The Federal High Court sitting in Minna has adjourned a suit challenging the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Rijau/Magama Federal Constituency to September 16 and 17, 2026, for the commencement of hearing.
The suit was filed by Shehu Samaila Auna against Prof. Yakubu Mohammed Auna over the APC primary election held on May 16, 2026.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the first defendant, Philip Adah, Esq., raised a preliminary objection, urging the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that it was statute-barred, arguing that the plaintiff failed to institute the action within the time prescribed by the Electoral Act 2025.
Counsel to the second defendant also filed a preliminary objection, contending that the suit lacked merit because it was not filed within the period stipulated by law.
The plaintiff, through his counsel, Danjuma Abubakar Sadeeq, is asking the court to nullify the APC primary election, alleging that no valid primary election was conducted in Rijau and Magama Federal Constituency as claimed by the defendants.
He further prayed the court to order the APC to conduct a fresh primary election for the constituency.
Responding to the preliminary objections, Sadeeq told the court that he was only served with the objection at about 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, leaving him with insufficient time to prepare a response.
“My Lord, I was served with the preliminary objection by 4:15 p.m. yesterday, July 21, 2026, and I need time to respond to the issues raised in the objection,” he submitted.
Justice Mohammed Abdullahi Dan-Ige granted the request and adjourned the matter to September 16 and 17, 2026, for hearing.
