At least eight aspirants who contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries in May 2026 have taken the ruling party to court, filing suits in Federal High Courts across multiple states. The legal challenges, which name the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and declared winners as defendants, allege irregularities, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, improper exclusion, and wrongful declaration of winners. Hearings remain ongoing in several courts ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Cases Spread Across Zamfara, Gombe, and Delta
In Zamfara North, aspirant Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi filed a suit contesting the conduct and outcome of the primary. His case has been adjourned multiple times, with hearings continuing into late July 2026. Meanwhile, Bilyaminu Babadidi of Gombe South challenged the primary result, taking the APC, the declared winner, and INEC to court. The Gombe matter was adjourned for final written addresses around July 22, 2026.
Delta State produced two disputes. Michael Diden, contesting Delta South, claims he actually won the primary over the incumbent. His hearings stretched from early July onward. In Delta North, Ned Nwoko challenged the emergence of Ifeanyi Okowa, but a Federal High Court in Abuja struck out his suit in mid-July 2026.
Plateau, Kogi, Ekiti, and Yobe Challenges
Gyang Zi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing Plateau North interests, challenged his disqualification from the primary rather than the result. His case has been adjourned to around September 2026. In Kogi West, Samuel Bamidele Aro contested the nomination of Sunday Karimi as the district's candidate; reports surfaced around July 25–26, 2026. Ayo Arise of Ekiti North approached the court claiming he was the rightful winner of the primary. In Yobe North, Hassan Hussaini Kafayos challenged his disqualification from the primary, with the matter currently before the court.
Unresolved Suits and Broader Context
Courts have adjourned several cases for further hearing or written addresses, while at least one—the Ned Nwoko suit—has been struck out. Additional disputes have been reported in other districts but did not progress to court or were not sustained. No official consolidated national figure for all pending suits has been published. The APC has previously uploaded governorship candidates for 27 states to INEC, resolving most disputes from its primaries. However, one Northeast state still needs to name a deputy governorship candidate, with party leaders due to meet in Abuja to finalise the pick.
