RismadarVoice Reporters
September 28, 2026
A Federal High Court has fixed November 19, 2026, for judgment in a suit challenging the outcome of the All Progressives Congress primary election for the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The suit was instituted by APC senatorial aspirant Momoh Yusuf Obaro, who is challenging the emergence of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello as the party’s candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.
Official results announced following the May 18 primary declared Bello the winner with 72,399 votes, while Ibrahim Yakubu Adoke polled 319 votes and Obaro recorded 188 votes.
Obaro, however, disputed the declared results and maintained that figures obtained by his agents showed that he won the exercise.
He had earlier petitioned the APC leadership, alleging irregularities in the conduct and collation of the primary and asking the party to recognise what he described as the authentic results or conduct a fresh election.
The dispute subsequently moved to court, with the APC, Bello and the Independent National Electoral Commission involved in the proceedings.
Bello has opposed the suit.
In a preliminary objection, the former governor argued that the dispute concerns the internal affairs of a political party and that the court therefore lacks jurisdiction to determine the matter.
The court is expected to consider the arguments and evidence presented by the parties before determining the legal challenge.
INEC has meanwhile listed Bello as the APC candidate for Kogi Central ahead of the 2027 general election.
The November 19 judgment is expected to determine the legal challenge to Bello’s recognition as the party’s candidate and Obaro’s claim arising from the disputed primary.
Until the court delivers its judgment, Obaro’s claim that he won the primary remains contested and has not been judicially established.
