The Federal High Court in Gombe has adjourned the lawsuit challenging the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Gombe South Senatorial District until July 22, 2026, when both sides will present their final written addresses before judgment.

The case is being heard by Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed following a suit filed by Hon. Bilyaminu Babadidi against the APC, Jerry Joseph Damara and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Babadidi is asking the court to nullify Damara’s emergence as the APC’s senatorial candidate for Gombe South.

During the trial, the claimant called four witnesses, including himself, and tendered several documents as evidence.

The witnesses claimed that no APC primary election took place at polling units or local government levels. They also alleged that election officials and voting materials were never deployed for the exercise.

According to the claimant, he also lodged a complaint with the APC Appeal Committee, but “no action” was taken on his petition.

In response, the APC presented one witness, Rabilu Musa, who identified himself as the chairman of the party’s National Primary Election Committee.

He told the court that the APC conducted its senatorial primary across Gombe State, including Gombe South, on May 18, 2026.

However, under cross-examination, Musa admitted that the voters’ register was not tendered as evidence before the court.

After both parties concluded their cases, Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed adjourned the matter until July 22, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses before delivering judgment.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Adamawa for the 2027 election, Maurice Vonobolki, has said the era of political godfathers in the state is over.

Speaking to journalists at Yola International Airport after returning from Abuja with his certificate of return, Vonobolki said the influence of political godfathers ended when Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri came to power in 2019.

He said, “The cancer called ‘godfatherism’ was eradicated since the emergence of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri in the 2019 election. Fintiri was elected without any godfather behind his emergence, except for the support of the Adamawa voters.”

He added, “We are going to bring an end to the politics of godfatherism. People of Adamawa State, you, yourself, will own your government by yourself. After all, government is for the people, by the people, and for the people.”

Vonobolki said the PDP had given all members a fair chance to contest for elective positions but noted that some unsuccessful aspirants were creating unnecessary tension and confusion.

He said that now the party’s candidates had emerged through the approved PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) processes, any misunderstanding over the primaries would be resolved.

According to him, the certificates of return issued to successful candidates prove there is no division within the Adamawa PDP. He described the party as “one big family” and called on members to unite ahead of the 2027 general election.

Vonobolki stressed that the visit was not part of a campaign but to present the certificates of return to party members and address what he described as false claims and propaganda.

He also said, “PDP remains one political party all over Nigeria under the leadership of Honourable Abraham Mohammed, who is the national chairman of the party.”

The PDP candidate congratulated party members across the country and invited aggrieved members to return, saying, “We extend our hand of fellowship to all other members of PDP who feel aggrieved and want to come back home.”

He expressed confidence that the party would win the 2027 elections and said the people of Adamawa would determine the future of their state.

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Friday held a closed-door meeting with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, at the former minister’s residence in Abuja.

Details of the meeting were not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.

The meeting comes barely 24 hours after Amaechi visited former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, also in Abuja, as consultations continue within the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Following Thursday’s meeting, Tambuwal congratulated Amaechi on his emergence as the ADC’s vice-presidential candidate, describing him as an experienced public servant whose commitment to democratic ideals would strengthen the party’s mission.

“Our meeting provided another opportunity to reflect on the enormous responsibility before us as we work with other patriotic Nigerians to build a broad, united and credible platform capable of restoring hope, strengthening our democracy and offering our people the purposeful leadership they deserve,” Tambuwal said in a statement.

He also welcomed the judgment of the Federal High Court affirming the legitimacy of the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC, describing it as a victory for the rule of law, constitutional democracy and due process.

According to Tambuwal, the judgment clears the way for the party to focus on strengthening its internal cohesion and presenting Nigerians with what he described as a credible alternative built on justice, inclusion, competence and national renewal.

Amaechi was recently unveiled as the running mate to the ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2027 general elections.

The party has also uploaded the names of Atiku and Amaechi to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal ahead of next year’s election.