A legal challenge against the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency encountered a setback on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Jalingo, Taraba State, due to the non-appearance of the lawyer representing the third defendant.
The case was brought forward by Princess Leah Olusiyo Solomon, an APC female aspirant, who is petitioning the court to invalidate the party’s primary election within the constituency. She contends that the exercise was not held in any of the three local government areas—Jalingo, Yorro, and Zing—that form the constituency.
During the scheduled hearing, the attorney for the incumbent House of Representatives member for the constituency, named as the third defendant, failed to appear, thereby preventing the court from moving forward. As a result, the presiding judge postponed the proceedings to July 1, 2026, for further action.
Speaking to the press after the session, Barrister Pius Danba Pius, the plaintiff’s counsel, voiced his bewilderment at the third defendant’s lawyer’s absence, noting that all necessary documents had been properly served to all parties. “I find it puzzling that the third defendant’s counsel was not in court despite receiving the court papers,” Pius remarked.
He conveyed hopefulness that the substantive hearing would commence on the next scheduled date. He also asserted that the case should proceed regardless of the lawyer’s presence at the next sitting.
Additionally, the court postponed a similar case filed by Job Julius, an APC aspirant for the Ardo Kola/Karim-Lamido/Lau Federal Constituency, to July 15, 2026. Julius is also seeking the annulment of the APC primary election in his constituency, alleging that it was not conducted according to the party’s regulations and established electoral procedures.
These two cases underscore the increasing number of post-primary election conflicts within political parties as disgruntled aspirants continue to seek judicial redress over the management of party nomination processes. Both matters are scheduled to return to the Federal High Court in Jalingo on their respective adjourned dates for continued hearings.