Taraba APC primary election suit delayed due to absent defense counsel

Proceedings in a lawsuit contesting the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency were halted on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Jalingo, Taraba State, because the counsel for the third defendant was not present.

The action was brought by APC female aspirant Princess Leah Olusiyi Solomon, who seeks to invalidate the party’s primary election in the constituency.

Solomon argues that the primary was not held in any of the three local government areas that comprise the constituency—Jalingo, Yorro and Zing.

When the case was set for hearing, the lawyer representing the incumbent House of Representatives member for the constituency, listed as the third defendant, failed to appear, preventing the court from moving forward.

As a result, the presiding judge adjourned the matter to 1 July 2026 for further proceedings.

After the session, counsel for the plaintiff, Barrister Pius Danba Pius, told reporters that he was surprised by the absence of the third defendant’s lawyer, noting that all parties had been properly served with court documents.

“I cannot understand why the counsel to the third defendant was absent from court despite having been served with the court papers,” Pius said.

He expressed confidence that substantive hearing would begin on the next scheduled date.

Although no official reason was given for the lawyer’s absence, Pius maintained that the case should proceed at the next sitting regardless of the counsel’s presence.

In a related matter, the court also adjourned a similar suit filed by Job Julius, an APC aspirant for the Ardo Kola/Karim‑Lamido/Lau Federal Constituency, to 15 July 2026.

Julius seeks to nullify the APC primary in his constituency, claiming the exercise did not follow the party’s guidelines and established electoral procedures.

These two cases underscore the increasing number of post‑primary disputes within political parties, as dissatisfied aspirants pursue judicial intervention over nomination processes.

Both matters are expected to return before the Federal High Court in Jalingo on their respective adjourned dates for further hearing.