INEC backs APC candidate Aliyu’s victory claim in Jos North-North APC primary

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that Dr Adamu Aliyu won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election conducted for the Jos North-North state constituency of Plateau state on May 20, 2026.

INEC’s position was made known during the adoption of its response and counter-affidavit to the affidavit in support of the originating summons in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1618/2026 filed by Aliyu.

Counsel to INEC, Boma Alabi, SAN, told the court that the results contained in Exhibits APC 1, APC 2 and PL4 series attached to the APC’s counter-affidavit did not represent the actual outcome of the primary.

He further stated that the second respondent, Abdulkadir Hassan, was not the winner of the primary.

Alabi said: “The monitoring report submitted to INEC by its officials, which I have also seen and read, shows that the plaintiff scored the highest number of votes and was the winner of the primary.”

According to him, the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the monitoring report, together with the results obtained on the day of the primary, had been attached to INEC’s counter-affidavit and marked as Exhibit INEC APC 1.

INEC consequently urged the court to hold that the suit was meritorious and grant the reliefs sought by Aliyu.

In its written address in support of the counter-affidavit, INEC urged the court to hold that it had discharged its constitutional and statutory mandate of monitoring the APC primary.

It stated: “My Lord is urged to hold that the 3rd defendant discharged its constitutional and statutory mandate of monitoring the 1st defendant’s primary for Jos North-North state constituency conducted on 20th May, 2026 and upon the report submitted by the officials who monitored the Primaries, the Plaintiff (Adamu Aliyu), has won the primaries.”

INEC further submitted that the APC ought to submit Aliyu’s name as its candidate for the constituency, adding that its official electoral record established the plaintiff’s case.

Counsel to Aliyu, Yakubu A.H. Ruba, SAN, also adopted the processes filed before the court.

Meanwhile, Plateau state governor Caleb Muftwang, while presenting Certificates of Return to APC candidates for the 2027 general election, withheld the certificate for Jos North-North constituency pending the determination of the suit filed by Aliyu.