The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the Ward and Local Government congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State null and void.
POLITICS NIGERIA learnt that these congresses were reportedly held on February 7, 2023, to select a candidate for the November governorship election.
Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the case instituted by a group of aggrieved APC members led by Realwan Okpanachi, ruled that the congresses were not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and the APC constitution.
The judge also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from using the delegates list that emanated from the unlawful congresses for the party to select its governorship flagbearer. He ordered the APC leadership to conduct fresh congresses in compliance with Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 and Section 13 of the party’s constitution.
During the trial of the case, the APC failed to disclose the venues and time where the purported Ward and Local Government congresses were held and also failed to show the report of INEC officials that purportedly monitored the elections, according to the judge.
The court, therefore, ordered the APC to conduct special congresses in line with the provisions of the relevant laws, especially Section 84 of the Electoral Act and Section 13 of the APC’s Constitution.
