The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 20, 2026 for hearing a suit challenging the nomination of former Senate President, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District.
The case was filed by an aggrieved aspirant, Hassan Kafayos, who is contesting the outcome of the APC primary election held on May 18, 2026.
The suit is before Justice Salim Ibrahim.
When the matter came up on Thursday, counsel to the claimant, Francis Mgboh, informed the court that there were difficulties in serving court documents on some defendants.
He explained that while the APC and its National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, had been served, the former Senate President had not been personally served.
The court was also told that Lawan had been “evasive,” prompting an application for substituted service.
Justice Ibrahim directed the claimant’s lawyer to file a proper motion for substituted service instead of expanding an earlier application.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to June 29, 2026, for hearing of the motions seeking substituted service on both Lawan and APC chairman Nentawe Yilwatda.
He also ordered all parties to ensure proper filing and exchange of legal processes before the next hearing date.
In the originating summons filed on May 29, Kafayos is asking the court to invalidate the APC primary election that produced Lawan as candidate.
He alleged that he was unlawfully excluded from the process despite being a financially registered party member and cleared by the screening committee.
He argued that the primary violated provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2026, and APC internal guidelines.
Kafayos claimed that on the day of the election in Gashua, Yobe State, officials suddenly announced that only Lawan had been cleared as a candidate.
He further alleged that confusion at the venue led to disruption, including the use of tear gas by security operatives, dispersing voters gathered for the exercise.
According to him, the process was later moved to a private residence where Lawan was allegedly affirmed by a small group of participants.
The claimant is seeking several orders, including:
Nullification of the APC primary election in Yobe North, A fresh primary election in the senatorial district, An injunction stopping APC from submitting Lawan’s name to INEC, An order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or publishing Lawan as candidate, ₦50 million in damages for alleged wrongful exclusion
He also asked the court to declare him the rightful APC candidate or compel a rerun of the primary.
