Former Minister of Sports, Abdulrahman Gimba, has approached the Federal High Court in Minna to challenge the African Democratic Congress, ADC, primary election that produced Baba Shehu Agaie as the party’s candidate for Niger South Senatorial District.

In the suit marked FHC/MN/CS/55/2026, Gimba is asking the court to nullify the primary election, alleging that it was not conducted in some wards and local government areas within the senatorial district.

The defendants in the suit are the ADC, Baba Shehu Agaie and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Represented by his counsel, Mohammed Gimba, alongside three other lawyers, the plaintiff also contended that Agaie was not qualified to contest the primary, alleging that he was still occupying a leadership position in the party at the time of the exercise, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2025.

When the matter came up for hearing before Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Barau, counsel to the second defendant, Abdulrahman Siraj, sought an adjournment, informing the court that some of the defendants were yet to file their responses.

Justice Barau subsequently adjourned the case to July 22 and 23, 2026, directing the first defendant to serve the plaintiff with his statement of defence and allowing the plaintiff time to respond before the commencement of hearing.

Speaking with journalists after the court session, counsel to the second defendant, Abdulrahman Siraj, said the plaintiff’s claims were based on allegations that the primary election was not conducted in some wards and local government areas and that the second defendant (Baba Shehu Agaie) was ineligible to contest because he had not resigned from his position within the party.

According to him, “We have filed the necessary processes on behalf of the second defendant. Issues have been joined, but some of the defendants are yet to file their statements of defence. That is why the matter was adjourned for the commencement of hearing.”

Also speaking, counsel to the first defendant (ADC), Jibril Musa Kallamu, said the dispute was an internal party matter that could still be resolved without prolonged litigation.

“While the matter is before the court, efforts are also being made to resolve it internally. We hope that by the next adjourned date, the issues would have been amicably settled,” Kallamu stated.

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has upturned the decision of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which set aside parts of the electoral guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the conduct of the 2027 general election.

The court set aside the Abuja Federal High Court judgement and allowed the appeal by INEC on the ground that the electoral umpire is empowered under the law to issue guidelines for the conduct of elections in the country.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko, who led the appellate court panel that heard and delivered judgement in the matter, held that the Federal High Court is bound by its decision in the case between INEC Vs Youth Party of Nigeria, delivered last week.

Justice James Omotosho has in his ruling in the suit filed by the Social Democratic Party, SDP, granted some reliefs in favour of the party and some others in favour of the electoral umpire.

Not satisfied by the two judgements, INEC approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgments of Justice Umar and parts of the judgement of Justice Omotosho, which limited the commission’s power regarding the conduct of elections.

During the hearing of the appeals, Dr Alex Izinyon, SAN, who led the INEC legal team, contended that the commission has the power as provided by the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act to issue guidelines for the elections.

Izinyon said, “The Constitution, specifically, empowered INEC to organise, supervise and undertake elections and other political activities as provided and that the timetable provided is in consonance with the power donated by the 1999 Constitution and the enabling act for INEC to do what it did in issuing elections timetables.

“The trial court erred in law because it failed to interpret, using the Supreme Court authorities and Court of Appeal decisions on the power already donated by the 1999 Constitution to INEC to arrange for elections including pre-election matters.

“The Supreme Court and Court of Appeal have held that INEC has the power to organise and supervise elections and this includes timetable for elections to carry out political activities preceding the elections.”

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‎Political parties and other stakeholders in Ebonyi State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to extend the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise.

They warned that thousands of eligible voters, particularly in rural communities, risk being disenfranchised if the exercise ends as scheduled.
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‎The appeal comes as INEC prepares to conclude the third and final phase of the nationwide voter registration exercise on July 26, 2026.
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‎Speaking in Abakaliki on Tuesday, the Ebonyi State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Dr. Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, said an extension had become necessary to enable more eligible Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, noting that the general election is still more than 100 days away.
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‎According to her, many elderly people and residents of remote communities are yet to register due to limited access to registration centres, adding that ending the exercise as scheduled could deny thousands of citizens the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.
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‎She urged eligible residents of Ebonyi State to take advantage of the registration exercise by registering or updating their voter information where necessary, stressing that voting remains the most effective means of influencing democratic governance.
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‎Commenting on the participation of opposition parties in the state, Adibe-Nwafor disclosed that the ADC had successfully uploaded the names of its candidates for the governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and Ebonyi State House of Assembly elections. She stressed that opposition parties remain actively engaged in the state’s political process.
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‎Also speaking, businessmen Fidelis Oge and Michael Igwe appealed to INEC to deploy additional registration personnel and equipment to rural communities across the state, saying the shortage of registration machines had prevented many eligible voters from completing the registration process.
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‎They urged the electoral umpire to consider extending the exercise to ensure that all eligible Nigerians willing to register are given the opportunity to participate in the forthcoming general elections.