2027: Court adjourns Ibi/Wukari APGA candidate dispute

The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, on Monday, adjourned the swimsuit difficult the candidacy of Mathias Agbu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for the Ibi/Wukari Federal Constituency.

The swimsuit, instituted by Pius Sabo towards APGA, Agbu and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is looking for a court docket declaration recognising Sabo because the rightful candidate of the celebration for the House of Representatives seat.

Sabo is difficult his exclusion from the record of aspirants who contested for the celebration’s ticket forward of the 2027 common elections.

Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Sabo’s counsel, John Odekina, expressed confidence in his shopper’s case, regardless of the rigorous cross-examination of the primary defendant’s witness.

“Our client is the rightful candidate of the party, and we are asking the court to do the needful,” Odekina stated.

However, counsel to Agbu, Pius Danba Pius, urged the court docket to dismiss the swimsuit, citing current Supreme Court selections on membership of political events.

He argued that the APGA membership register tendered as an exhibit earlier than the court docket didn’t comprise Sabo’s title, insisting that the plaintiff was not a registered member of the celebration.

Pius maintained that the celebration’s pointers and the proof offered earlier than the court docket clearly established Agbu’s eligibility as APGA’s candidate for the constituency.

He consequently urged the court docket to strike out the swimsuit and recognise Agbu because the celebration’s candidate for the Ibi/Wukari Federal Constituency.

Similarly, APGA’s counsel, Longs Lungna Takdok, aligned himself with Agbu’s place, arguing that Sabo had failed to determine a reputable case towards the defendants.

Takdok urged the court docket to dismiss the swimsuit, paving the best way for Agbu to fly the celebration’s flag within the 2027 common elections.

The court docket subsequently adjourned the matter till Monday subsequent week for continuation of proceedings.