Court Declares Mandung Winner Of Plateau APC Primary

The Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State, on Monday declared Hon. Ayuba Dalyop Mandung the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Jos South State Constituency ahead of the 2027 general election.

The court, presided over by Justice Dorcas Agishi, also restrained the APC and other defendants from presenting Mancha John Vincent as the party’s duly nominated candidate for the constituency.

The judgment followed a suit filed by Mandung against Vincent, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenging the alleged alteration of the results of the party’s primary election held on 20 May 2026.

The plaintiff was represented by Ritji Timothy Yilwatda, Esq., of Gyang Zi, SAN & Co.

The dispute centred on the alleged alteration of the APC primary election results in Giring Ward after they had been announced at the ward level.
In its judgment, the court held that the results could not lawfully be altered after their announcement. It also found that Mandung had not been accorded a fair hearing.
Consequently, the court issued a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from presenting Vincent as the duly nominated APC candidate for Jos South State Constituency.

It further ordered the defendants to comply with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act and the APC guidelines governing the nomination of candidates.

The court also issued a mandatory order compelling the APC to submit Mandung’s name to INEC as its duly nominated candidate for the constituency in the 2027 general election.

In addition, the court awarded costs of ₦500,000 each against Vincent, the APC and INEC.

Mandung had approached the court in suit number FHC/J/CS/43/2026, seeking a declaration that he won the party’s primary election after allegedly securing the highest number of votes announced at the ward level.

He also challenged the alleged alteration of the original results in favour of Vincent.

The court dismissed the preliminary objections raised by counsel to the defendants before determining the substantive issues in Mandung’s favour.