Proceedings in a suit challenging the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency were on Wednesday stalled at the Federal High Court in Jalingo, Taraba State, following the absence of counsel to the third defendant.
The suit was filed by an APC female aspirant, Princess Leah Olusiyi Solomon, who is seeking the nullification of the party’s primary election in the constituency.
Solomon is contesting the outcome of the exercise, alleging that the APC primary election was not conducted in any of the three local government areas that make up the constituency—Jalingo, Yorro and Zing.
When the matter came up for hearing, counsel representing the incumbent member of the House of Representatives for the constituency, who is listed as the third defendant, was absent from court, preventing the commencement of proceedings.
As a result, the presiding judge adjourned the case to July 1, 2026, for further hearing.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Pius Danba Pius, expressed surprise over the absence of the third defendant’s lawyer, noting that all parties had been duly served with the necessary court processes.
“I cannot understand why the counsel to the third defendant was absent from court despite having been served with the court papers,” he said.
Pius expressed confidence that substantive hearing would begin on the next adjourned date and maintained that the matter should proceed whether or not the third defendant’s counsel is present.
No official reason was provided for the absence of the lawyer.
In a related development, the court also adjourned a similar suit filed by APC aspirant Job Julius over the party’s primary election for the Ardo Kola/Karim-Lamido/Lau Federal Constituency.
The case was adjourned to July 15, 2026.
Julius is seeking the nullification of the primary election, alleging that the exercise was not conducted in accordance with APC guidelines and established electoral procedures.
The two cases underscore the growing number of post-primary election disputes within political parties, with aggrieved aspirants increasingly turning to the courts to challenge nomination processes.
Both matters are expected to return before the Federal High Court in Jalingo on their respective adjourned dates for further proceedings.