Aspirant Approaches Court To Withdraw APC Candidate In Niger

The Federal High Court, Minna in Niger State, has adjourned to July 9, 2026, to commence hearing on the suit challenging the election of Prof. Yakubu Mohammed Auna as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Magama/ Rijau constituency.

The suit was filed by Alhaji Shehu Samaila Auna demanding the cancellation of the election because the primary was not conducted as claimed.

Joined in the suit number FHC/MN/CS/ 542026 are Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Shehu Saleh Slow,Safiyanu, Safiyanu Yahaya, Emma Alamu and Sani Doma as defendants.

The plaintiff prayed the court to determine whether the second defendant satisfy the requirements of the provisions of sections 84 (1),(2),86,87 (1) of the Electoral Act,2026 in producing the first defendant as her candidate, for the seat of member, representing Magama/ Rijau Federal Constituency for the 2027 general election as announced by the Niger State House of Representatives Primary Election Committee and returning officer, having regards that no primary election was conducted in the said constituency.

Similarly, the plaintiff prayed that the court should determine whether the first defendant was validly nominated as the second defendant’s candidate for the seat of member, representing Magama/Rijau Federal constituency in the National Assembly in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections in view of the fact that the second defendant did not hold any primary for the nomination of candidate for Magama/ Rijau Federal Constituency,in flagrant disregard to the provision of section 84 (1),(2),86 and(3) of the Electoral Act,2026.

The plaintiff further demanded that “ whether the first defendant is validly nominated as the second defendant’s candidate for the seat of member representing Magama/ Rijau Federal constituency in the National Assembly in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections in view of the fact that the second defendant did not conduct any primary election for the nomination of candidate for Magama /Rijau Federal constituency,in the flagrant disregard to the provision of sections 84 (1),(2), 86,87,(1),(2),and(3) of the electoral act,2026″.

“ If the answer to any of the questions above is in the negative,whether the third defendants can validly accept the nomination of the first defendant as her candidate for the seat of member representing Magama/ Rijau Federal Constituency in the forthcoming 2026 General Elections” the plaintiff sought thus.

The plaintiff said “ By the virture of the flagrant disregard to the provisions of sections 84 (1(,(2),86,87(1),(2) and (3) of the electoral act,2026,the nomination of the first defendant by the second defendant as her candidate for the seat of member representing Magama/ Rijau Federal Constituency in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections was not validly conducted,therefore null and void.”

It was however, observed that the inability to serve the two defendants in the suit with the hearing notice as filed in the court by the counsel to the plaintiff could not allow the case to be heard.

The counsel to the plaintiff Mohammed Abdullahi Esq, prayed that the court should adjourn the case pending when the hearing notice will be served on them.