The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State’s February 7, 2023 list of delegates submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its upcoming governorship primary election has been declared invalid by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a ruling on Wednesday, Justice James Omotosho stated that there was no evidence before the court to support the validity of the special ward congresses from which the alleged delegates were elected.
Justice Omotosho further pointed out that the party had not offered any convincing proof that INEC had been keeping an eye on the particular congress or congresses where the names on the specific delegate list were produced.
The judge, who restrained INEC from accepting and acting on the said delegates list, said the APC in Kogi State still has an opportunity, with the existing time frame, to conduct valid special ward congresses to elect delegates, who will elect the party’s candidate for the governorship election.
Alternatively, the judge said the APC in Kogi could opt for any other mode of electing its candidate for the governorship election should it decide not to conduct valid special ward congresses as ordered by the court.
The judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/329/2023 filed by some aggrieved members of the APC in Kogi, led by Realwan Okpanachi.
