The Federal High Court, Sokoto Division, on Monday adjourned the suit on the Yabo/Shagari Federal House of Representatives primary election dispute to July 16 for hearing.
The trial judge, Justice Mahmud Ahmad-Gama, pronounced the adjournment after granting applications for an extension of time to enable parties to respond to processes filed in the case.
The case was instituted by an aggrieved All Progressives Congress, APC, aspirant, Alhaji Abubakar Umar-Shagari, who is challenging the declaration of Prof. Musa Maitafsir as the winner of the party’s primary election.
Umar-Shagari, through his counsel, Yahaya Gwazawa, argued that Maitafsir did not resign his federal government appointment before contesting the position, and that the election was marred by irregularities.
At the sitting, Gwazawa, who did not oppose the applications, said the defence counsel’s request for an extension of time would enable the plaintiff to present witnesses lined up to expedite the trial in recognition of the exigency of the suit.
The applications were moved by counsel to Maitafsir, Ms. Abigail Ochidi, and counsel to the APC, Mr. Bashir Jodi.
Earlier, when the case came up, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was not represented despite having been served with the court processes, as confirmed by counsel to the applicant.
Justice Ahmad-Gama ordered the parties to respond to the documents within the stipulated five days and adjourned the case to July 16, 2026, for hearing.
