BREAKING: Court Nullifies APC Primary, Bars Winner Over Missing Name in Party Register
Gombe- The Federal High Court in Gombe has nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election conducted on May 16 for the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, ruling that the exercise failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The court also ordered the APC to conduct a fresh primary and barred Ali J.C., who emerged as the winner of the nullified primary, from participating in the rerun.
Justice Vera Ibrahim, who delivered the judgment, held that Ali’s name was not contained in the APC membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the timeframe prescribed by law.
The court relied on Section 77 of the Electoral Act, which requires political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC at least 21 days before conducting party primaries.
According to the judgment, Ali reportedly joined the APC 16 days before the primary, while neither the APC nor INEC provided sufficient evidence showing that his name was included in the relevant register submitted within the statutory period.
The court consequently nullified the May 16 primary and directed the APC to conduct a fresh primary in compliance with the law.
The ruling has thrown the APC’s representation in the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency into fresh uncertainty ahead of the 2027 general election.
More details to follow
