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 instituted 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 challenging the outcome of the exercise on the grounds 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 in the case, was absent, making it impossible for the court to proceed with the hearing.
Consequently, the presiding judge adjourned the matter to July 1, 2026, for further proceedings.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the court session, counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Pius Danba Pius, expressed surprise over the absence of the third defendant’s lawyer, stressing that all parties had been duly served with the relevant court processes.
“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 optimism that substantive hearing would commence on the next adjourned date.
Although no official reason was given for the absence of the third defendant’s counsel, Pius maintained that the case should proceed at the next sitting whether the lawyer is present or not.
Meanwhile, the court also adjourned a similar suit filed by Job Julius, an APC aspirant for the Ardo Kola/Karim-Lamido/Lau Federal Constituency, to July 15, 2026.
Julius is also seeking the nullification of the APC primary election in the constituency, alleging that the exercise was not conducted in line with the party’s guidelines and established electoral procedures.
The two cases have further highlighted the growing number of post-primary election disputes within political parties, as aggrieved aspirants continue to seek judicial intervention over the conduct of party nomination processes.
Both matters are expected to return before the Federal High Court in Jalingo on their respective adjourned dates for further hearing.