Court sets July 28 for final arguments in APC Zamfara North primary dispute

By Musa Baba Adamu with agency report

The Federal High Court sitting in Gusau has fixed July 28 for the adoption of final written addresses in the suit challenging the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election for Zamfara North.

Justice Hassan Dikko adjourned the matter after hearing applications, affidavits, counter-affidavits and preliminary objections filed by the parties.

The suit was instituted by APC senatorial aspirant, Abdullahi Shinkafi, who is contesting the outcome of the party’s May 19 primary election that produced the incumbent senator representing Zamfara North, Sahabi Ya’u, as the APC candidate for the 2027 general election.

Shinkafi is asking the court to nullify the exercise, alleging that it was conducted in breach of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines and the APC’s electoral procedures.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Bello Galadi, told the court that the primary election was riddled with irregularities, alleging that the results were written by officials who conducted the exercise.

Following the proceedings, Galadi disclosed that the court granted three applications seeking an extension of time to file the plaintiff’s replies to processes submitted by INEC and the third defendant, including responses to a preliminary objection.

He added that another application seeking leave to appeal and a stay of execution was contested and has been adjourned for hearing.

During the hearing, counsel to the third defendant, J.C. Shaka, urged the court to impose a N2 million cost against the plaintiff, arguing that a counter-affidavit was served on the day of the proceedings.

However, Justice Dikko rejected the request after the court registry confirmed that the document had been filed on July 20, within the prescribed three-day period.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter until July 28 for the adoption of final written addresses, marking the next stage in the legal challenge to the APC senatorial primary.